Departmental Responsibilities

Ann Clwyd: To ask the Prime Minister pursuant to the written ministerial statement of 20 July 2010,  Official Report, column 12WS, on machinery of government changes, which of the changes will require legislation in order to have full effect.

David Cameron: I refer the hon. Member to the machinery of government changes explanatory document which I placed in the Library on 27 July 2010.

Civil Service Live Conference

Graham Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the cost to the public purse was of the Improvement and Development Agency stand at Civil Service Live 2010.

Bob Neill: The Department does not hold this information. The Improvement and Development Agency is part of the Local Government Association group; we expect the LGA to adopt the same standards of openness, transparency, and accountability as councils. The LGA has committed to publish details of all future expenditure over £500 from 1 September 2010. The LGA already seeks to abide by the principles of the Freedom of Information Act and are to be formally subject to the same FOI rules as central and local Government.

Departmental Buildings

Matthew Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much office space per employee his Department and its predecessors occupied in each year since 1997.

Bob Neill: The amount of office space per employee for the Department for Communities and Local Government for 2008 and 2009, that includes data on CLG Central, the Government Office Network and its arm's length bodies has previously been published in the Office of Government Commerce's State of the Estate report.
	The FTE per square metre for CLG was reported as 15.9 m2 in 2008 and in 14.9 m2 in 2009.
	The reports can be accessed electronically using the following links:
	http://www.ogc.gov.uk/documents/State_of_the_Estate in 2008.pdf
	http://www.ogc.gov.uk/documents/SOFTE_brochure.pdf
	The requested data for the period prior to 2008 is not available.

Departmental Public Consultation

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what steps he is taking to increase the involvement of young members of the public in the making of decisions that affect them taken by  (a) Ministers in his Department,  (b) officials in his Department and  (c) public bodies which fall within his Department's area of responsibility.

Andrew Stunell: My Department is facilitating a range of activities to increase the involvement of young people in decisions made by its Ministers, officials and public bodies. Ministers recently met the Young Advisors' Charity and a number of its young advisors to talk about young people's contribution to the Big Society agenda; and officials hold regular meetings with representative organisations to ensure the views of young people are properly taken into account when developing policy. Although we do not hold information centrally on the work of this Department's public bodies with young people, we are aware of a number of different engagement programmes, including the Olympic Legacy Company's establishment of a Youth Panel made up of young people from the host boroughs, to get them involved in shaping the plans for the park after the Games; and the Tenants' Service Authority work with the Young Advisors' Charity to recruit young people to participate in their national structures for tenant voice. The Department for Communities and Local Government is also working with the Department for Education and the Office for Civil Society to support the National Citizen Service programme. The National Citizen Service programme is a key component of, and will seek to galvanise young people's interest in the Big Society. The programme is aimed at 16-year-olds and will be piloted in summer 2011 and will seek to develop a more cohesive, responsible and engaged society.

Government Office for the North West

Julie Hilling: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the total monetary value was of assistance provided by the Government Office for the North West to third sector organisations, community groups and voluntary groups in the last three years.

Bob Neill: holding answer 27 July 2010
	The total running costs for Government office for the north-west throughout this period was £39.5 million. Of this, the estimated monetary value of assistance paid directly from GONW to infrastructure organisations that represent third sector, community and voluntary organisations is £300,000.

Government Offices for the Regions

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate he has made of the effect on levels of employment of the closure of the  (a) Government Office Network and  (b) Government Office for the West Midlands.

Greg Clark: The Secretary of State's announcement on 22 July 2010 made clear that final decisions will be made at the end of the spending review following consideration of consequential issues including the effect on jobs across the Government and on specific Government offices. Until the spending review is complete it is premature to speculate on these matters.

Government Offices for the Regions

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many people were employed by the  (a) Government Office Network and  (b) Government Office for the West Midlands on the latest date for which figures are available.

Greg Clark: As at 31 July there were 1,691 staff working in the Government office network, of these, 191 work in the Government office for the west midlands.

Housing

Karen Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many regulated tenancies there were in each local authority area on the latest date for which figures are available.

Andrew Stunell: Data on the number of regulated tenancies at local authority level is not available.
	The latest estimate at national level, based on data from the Survey of English Housing, is that there were 120,000 regulated tenancies in England in 2007-08.

Housing: Greater London

Karen Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many housing nominations have been received by each London local authority from each partner authority in each London sub-regional partnership since their inception.

Andrew Stunell: This information is not held by the Department of Communities and Local Government as made clear in the reply to the hon. Member's question of 30 March 2010,  Official Report, column 1141W.

Members: Correspondence

David Lammy: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government when he plans to reply to the letter from the hon. Member for Tottenham of 2 July 2010 on the Decentralisation and Localism Bill.

Greg Clark: A response was sent to the right hon. Member on 20 July inviting him to contact my office to arrange a personal meeting with me to discuss his concerns.

Mortgages: Government Assistance

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 20 July 2010,  Official Report, columns 221-22W, on mortgages: Government assistance, if he will continue to maintain and fund his Department's mortgagehelp website beyond the Comprehensive Spending Review.

Grant Shapps: I am committed to working with partners, including lenders, debt advisers and local authorities, to provide effective help and advice for homeowners at risk of repossession, including through provisions of the MortgageHelp website.
	Decisions on funding for future years will be taken as part of the spending review process.

Borders: Personal Records

Robert Halfon: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on how many occasions changes were made to the e-Borders contract specification between the letting of that contract and May 2010; and what assessment she made of the effect on the timetable for delivering the contract of  (a) changing the location of the National Border Targeting Centre and  (b) the change in security clearance requirements for personnel working on the e-Borders programme.

Damian Green: There were 58 changes to the specifications for the contract formally agreed between the parties, many of which dealt with relatively minor changes.
	The change in location of the National Border Targeting Centre did not affect the timescale for delivering the contract.
	A number of concessions were made to expedite the security clearance requirements for personnel from the service provider working on the e-Borders Programme to ensure the time scale for delivering the contract could be met.

Borders: Personal Records

David Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much her Department has paid Deloitte Consulting for its work on the eBorders programme since September 2005.

Damian Green: Since September 2005 the Home Department has paid Deloitte Consulting £37,300,000 in respect of work connected with the e-Borders programme.

Deportation: Children

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how many times physical force has been used to board a child under the age of 18 years on to an aeroplane by each company contracted to provide UK Border Agency escorts in each month of the last five years;
	(2)  whether  (a) staff in immigration removal centres and  (b) UK Border Agency escort providers have been authorised to use the holds and techniques on children under the age of 18 years referred to in the Physical Control in Care manual;
	(3)  what training on the control and restraint of children under the age of 18 years has been provided by the Prison Service  (a) in each immigration removal centre and  (b) to each company contracted to provide UK Border Agency escorts;
	(4)  how many times  (a) she and  (b) the manager of a (i) directly-managed and (ii) contracted-out immigration removal centre has ordered a detained child in each removal centre under the age of 18 years to be put under special control or restraint for (A) injuring himself or others, (B) damaging property and (C) creating a disturbance in each month of each of the last five years;
	(5)  what techniques are in the category of special control and restraint; how many times each of the techniques has been used on a child under the age of 18 years  (a) in each immigration removal centre and  (b) by each company contracted to provide UK Border Agency escorts in each of the last 12 months; and for how long each technique was used in each case.

Damian Green: Use of restraint is governed by schedule 13 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 and specifically in relation to Immigration Removal Centres, by the Detention Centre Rules 2001.
	In order to exercise any use of restraint, detention custody officers and escorts must be accredited by the Secretary of State, a condition of which is that they have undergone training of techniques approved by the National Offender Management Service. Officers receive refresher training every 12 months. Any use of restraint must be justified, proportionate and for the shortest possible period to achieve the objective.
	Some officers receive specialist training in the use of restraint on children using non-pain compliant techniques (Physical Control in Care), including shepherding and guiding.
	We only use restraint on a child where it is strictly necessary to prevent self-harm or to protect others and property. In very exceptional circumstances, officers may be given authority to restrain a child in order to enforce their removal from the United Kingdom where every effort has been made to secure their compliance, but unfortunately they refuse to do so, often encouraged by their parents.
	In the 12 months to June 2010, the period for which data is available, officers have been authorised to restrain children on 18 occasions for the purposes of removal. However, it was only necessary to restrain three of them. One further child was restrained in an immigration removal centre when officers had reason to believe she might self-harm.
	The following table shows the occasions from 2008 to the present time when children were restrained by officers to board an aircraft. Such information is not available prior to 2008. The officers were provided by G4S on each occasion.
	
		
			   Number of times restraint used 
			 February 2010 1 
			 September 2009 1 
			 August 2009 1 
			 March 2009 1 
			 January 2009 4 
			 September 2008 1 
			 June 2008 2 
			 April 2008 1 
			 March 2008 1 
		
	
	The above data is based on management information, and is not subject to the detailed checks carried out for National Statistics. It is provisional and subject to change.
	Special restraint involves the use of any device other than handcuffs such as leg restraints (velcro straps). No child has been subjected to special control or restraint in the last five years.

Passports

Alan Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps she plans to take to maintain passport security.

Theresa May: Passport security is extremely important. In operating the passport business, the Identity and Passport Service (IPS) will continue to work to UK Government security standards and international standards on document security. To ensure greater efficiency and an improvement in the detection of fraud IPS plans to develop a risk based approach to processing passport applications. In relation to document security a new design of the UK passport will be introduced from 5 October 2010 with improved physical security features. IPS also plans to examine the options for enhancing the electronic security of the UK passport, and for greater investment in facial recognition technology. The IPS will continue to closely monitor international developments in passport security in order to improve its efficiency and effectiveness.

Police: Manpower

Stephen McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers there were in each year since 1997; and how many police community support officers there were in each year since 2002.

Nick Herbert: The available data can be found in the tables.
	The first police community support officers started work in September 2002, following legislation which was introduced as part of the Police Reform Act 2002. Therefore, data on police community support officers are not available prior to 31 March 2003.
	This and other related data are published annually as part of the annual Police Service Strength Home Office Statistical Bulletin. The latest bulletin can be found at:
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/policeorg1.html
	and bulletins for this and previous years are deposited in the Library of the House.
	
		
			  Police Officer strength in England and Wales( 1) , as at 31 March, 1997 to 2010 
			  Full-time equivalent( 2) 
			   Police officers 
			 1997 125,051 
			 1998 124,756 
			 1999 123,841 
			 2000 121,956 
			 2001 123,476 
			 2002 127,267 
			 2003(3) 131,426 
			 2004(3) 137,105 
			 2005(3) 139,543 
			 2006(3) 139,631 
			 2007(3) 140,032 
			 2008(3) 139,728 
			 2009(3) 141,647 
			 2010(3) 141,631 
			 (1) Figures are for the 43 police forces of England and Wales. (2) This table contains full-time equivalent figures that have been rounded to the nearest whole number. All officers less staff on career breaks or maternity/paternity leave (comparable with previously published figures). (3) Comparable strength (excludes those on career breaks, or maternity/paternity leave). The Police Numbers Task Force (2001) recommended that a clear presentation was made of the numbers of staff employed by police forces including those seconded into the force and those on any type of long or short term absence. These new calculations were first used in 2003, and are not comparable with data prior to March 2003. The data from 2003 onwards used here are termed comparable because they have been calculated on the old basis to allow comparison. 
		
	
	
		
			  PCSO strength in England and Wales( 1) , as at 31 March, 2002 to 2010( 2) 
			  Full-time equivalent( 3) 
			   PCSO 
			 2002(4) n/a 
			 2003 1,176 
			 2004 3,418 
			 2005 6,214 
			 2006 6,769 
			 2007 13,497 
			 2008 15,805 
			 2009 16,507 
			 2010 16,918 
			 (1) Figures are for the 43 police forces of England and Wales. (2) Figures include those officers on career breaks or maternity/paternity leave. (3) This table contains full-time equivalent figures that have been rounded to the nearest whole number. (4) Police community support officers were introduced in statute in 2002, therefore data is not available prior to 2002-03.

UK Border Agency

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department in which locations the UK Border Agency operates visa application centres and visa sections overseas; and what the operational cost of these centres was over the last five years.

Damian Green: The UK Border Agency has contracts with two suppliers, VFS Global and CSC, who operate visa application centres. In addition, the UK Border Agency operates visa sections, some of which are decision-making centres and some of which are enrolment centres. The locations of these visa application centres and visa sections are given in the following tables.
	As regards operational costs, these are available for 2008-09 and 2009-10, since the visa operation has been part of the UK Border Agency. The operational costs of the visa application centres and the visa sections, including some London-based staff costs, were as follows:
	FY 2008-09: £321.1 million
	FY 2009-10: £314.3 million.
	The commercial partner contracts, which are include in the above, cost £61.0 million in 2008-09 and £68.3 million in 2009-10.
	The commercial partners operate 101 visa application centres in 48 countries. These are:
	
		
			  Country  Visa application centre 
			 Algeria Algiers 
			 Bahrain Manama 
			 Bangladesh Dhaka 
			  Sylhet 
			 Brazil Brasilia 
			  Rio de Janeiro 
			  Sao Paulo 
			 Canada Edmonton 
			  Ottawa 
			  Toronto 
			  Vancouver 
			 China Beijing 
			  Chengdu 
			  Chongqing 
			  Fuzhou 
			  Guangzhou 
			  Hangzhou 
			  Jinan 
			  Nanjing 
			  Shanghai 
			  Shenyang 
			  Shenzhen 
			  Wuhan 
			 Egypt Alexandria 
			  Cairo 
			 Ethiopia Addis Ababa 
			 France Paris 
			 Germany Berlin 
			  Dusseldorf 
			  Munich 
			 Ghana Accra 
			 India New Delhi 
			  Jalandar 
			  Chandigarh 
			  Kolkata 
			 India Chennai 
			  Hyderabad 
			  Bangalore 
			  Cochin 
			  Mumbai South 
			  Mumbai North 
			  Ahmedabad 
			  Pune 
			 Italy Rome 
			 Indonesia Jakarta 
			 Jamaica Kingston 
			 Japan Osaka 
			  Tokyo 
			 Jordan Amman 
			 Kazakhstan Almaty 
			 Kenya Nairobi 
			 Kuwait Kuwait City 
			 Lebanon Beirut 
			 Libya Tripoli 
			 Malawi Lilongwe 
			 Malaysia Kuala Lumpur 
			 Mozambique Maputo 
			 Namibia Windhoek 
			 Nepal Kathmandu 
			 Nigeria Abuja 
			  Lagos-Ikeja 
			  Lagos-VI 
			 Oman Muscat 
			 Pakistan Islamabad 
			  Karachi 
			  Lahore 
			  Mirpur 
			 Philippines Manila 
			 Qatar Doha 
			 Russia Yekaterinburg 
			  Moscow 
			  Novosibirsk 
			  Rostov 
			  St Petersburg 
			 Serbia Belgrade 
			 Singapore Singapore 
			 Saudi Arabia Jeddah 
			  Riyadh 
			  Al Khobar 
			 South Africa Cape Town 
			  Durban 
			  Johannesburg 
			  Port Elizabeth 
			  Pretoria 
			 South Korea Seoul 
			 Sri Lanka Colombo 
			 Switzerland Geneva 
			  Zurich 
			 Syria Damascus 
			 Taiwan Taipei 
			 Thailand Bangkok 
			 Turkey Ankara 
			  Bursa 
			  Gaziantep 
			  Istanbul 
			  Izmir 
			 UAE Abu Dhabi 
			  Dubai 
			 Uganda Kampala 
			 Ukraine Kiev 
			 Zimbabwe Harare 
		
	
	In total there are 144 UKBA visa sections as follows:
	
		
			  Country  Visa section 
			 Albania Tirana 
			 Algeria Algiers 
			 Angola Luanda 
			 Argentina Buenos Aires 
			 Armenia Yerevan 
			 Australia Canberra 
			  Brisbane 
			  Melbourne 
			  Perth 
			  Sydney 
			 Austria Vienna 
			 Azerbaijan Baku 
			 Bangladesh Dhaka 
			 Barbados Bridgetown 
			 Belarus Minsk 
			 Belgium Brussels 
			 Belize Belmopan 
			 Bolivia La Paz 
			 Bosnia and Herzegovina Sarajevo 
			 Botswana Gaborone 
			 Brazil Rio De Janeiro 
			 Brunei Bandar Seri Begawan 
			 Bulgaria Sofia 
			 Burma Rangoon 
			 Cambodia Phnom Penh 
			 Cameroon Yaoundé 
			 Canada Ottawa 
			 Chile Santiago 
			 China Beijing 
			  Chongqing 
			  Hong Kong 
			 Colombia Bogota 
			 Congo (Democratic Republic of) Kinshasa 
			 Costa Rica San Jose 
			 Croatia Zagreb 
			 Cuba Havana 
			 Cyprus Nicosia 
			 Czech Republic Prague 
			 Denmark Copenhagen 
			 Dominican Santo Domingo 
			 Ecuador Quito 
			 Egypt Cairo 
			 Estonia Tallinn 
			 Ethiopia Addis Ababa 
			 Fiji Suva 
			 Finland Helsinki 
			 France Paris 
			 Gambia, The Banjul 
			 Georgia Tbilisi 
			 Germany Dusseldorf 
			  Berlin 
			 Ghana Accra 
			 Gibraltar Gibraltar 
			 Greece Athens 
			 Guatemala Guatemala City 
			 Guyana Georgetown 
			 Hungary Budapest 
			 Iceland Reykjavik 
			 India Chennai 
			  Mumbai 
			  New Delhi 
			 Indonesia Jakarta 
			 Iran Tehran 
			 Iraq Baghdad 
			  Erbil 
			 Irish Republic Dublin 
			 Israel Jerusalem 
			  Tel Aviv 
			 Italy Rome 
			 Jamaica Kingston 
			 Jordan Amman 
			 Kazakhstan Almaty 
			  Astana 
			 Kenya Nairobi 
			 Kosovo Pristina 
			 Kuwait Kuwait City 
			 Latvia Riga 
			 Lebanon Beirut 
			 Libya Tripoli 
			 Lithuania Vilnius 
			 Macedonia Skopje 
			 Madagascar Antananarivo 
			 Malawi Lilongwe 
			 Malaysia Kuala Lumpur 
			 Malta Valletta 
			 Mauritius Port Louis 
			 Mexico Mexico City 
			 Moldova Chisinau 
			 Mongolia Ulaanbaatar 
			 Montenegro Podgorica 
			 Morocco Rabat 
			 Netherlands Amsterdam 
			 Nigeria Abuja 
			  Lagos 
			 North Korea Pyongyang 
			 Norway Oslo 
			 Oman Muscat 
			 Pakistan Islamabad 
			 Panama Panama City 
			 Papua New Port Moresby 
			 Peru Lima 
			 Philippines Manila 
			 Poland Warsaw 
			 Portugal Lisbon 
			 Qatar Doha 
			 Romania Bucharest 
			 Russian Moscow 
			 Rwanda Kigali 
			 Saudi Arabia Riyadh 
			 Senegal Dakar 
			 Serbia Belgrade 
			 Sierra Leone Freetown 
			 Singapore Singapore 
			 Slovakia Bratislava 
			 Slovenia Ljubljana 
			 South Africa Pretoria 
			 Spain Madrid 
			 Sri Lanka Colombo 
			 St Lucia Castries 
			 Sudan Khartoum 
			 Sweden Stockholm 
			 Switzerland Geneva 
			 Syria Damascus 
			 Tajikistan Dushanbe 
			 Tanzania Dar Es Salaam 
			 Thailand Bangkok 
			 Trinidad And Port of Spain 
			 Tunisia Tunis 
			 Turkey Istanbul 
			  Ankara 
			 Turkmenistan Ashgabat 
			 Uganda Kampala 
			 Ukraine Kiev 
			 United Arab Abu Dhabi 
			 United States Chicago 
			  Los Angeles 
			  New York 
			 Uruguay Montevideo 
			 Uzbekistan Tashkent 
			 Venezuela Caracas 
			 Vietnam Hanoi 
			 Yemen Sanaa 
			 Zambia Lusaka 
			 Zimbabwe Harare

Atos Healthcare

Eilidh Whiteford: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether  (a) any disciplinary action has been pursued and  (b) any complaints have been received and investigated by his Department in respect of Atos Healthcare in the last two years.

Chris Grayling: Following completion of investigations, if appropriate, a range of actions can be taken including remedial action which may involve re-training or removal from the list of approved health care professionals and employment terminated. Depending upon the findings of the investigation the General Medical Council may also be informed. A statistical breakdown is not available.
	The Department as a whole does not keep statistics on the number of complaints made about Atos Healthcare, however Atos Healthcare themselves have received 7,476 complaints over the last two years. For the last quarter ending May 2010 the total complaints, which includes complaints relating to accommodation, staff and operational processes, compared to the number of medical assessments completed was 0.57%.

Departmental Furniture

Matthew Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many chairs his Department and its predecessor purchased in each year since 1997; how much was spent in each such year; and what the five most expensive chairs purchased in each such year were.

Chris Grayling: Information prior to 2007 could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. The number of chairs purchased on behalf of the Department and the related cost are provided in the following table together with a breakdown of the five most expensive chairs purchased for each of those years.
	
		
			   Number of chairs  £ 
			 2007 9,209 1,036,159 
			 2008 4,741 619,685 
			 2009 5,611 773,970 
			 2010 (to date) 3,821 575,201 
		
	
	
		
			   Five most expensive individual chairs purchased  £ 
			 2007 EMOVE2-65 Motorised Office Chair 65 6,299 
			  BodyBilt Chair-BodyBilt J2504/A/SS/4Arm/JCP Blue 1,565 
			  BodyBilt Specialist Chair-BodyBilt J2504/A/SS/4Arm/G1 Liberty Blue 1,456 
			  RH4-2004/84010/S7/S15-2004 RH LOGIC 4 with L/S and neck rest 1,209 
			  OP26XALS4 OP26 Arm Chair AMP10 LS4 Wide Long Back 1,082 
			
			 2008 INVACARE PRONTO electric wheelchair 4,156 
			  B2503/Back Rest/A/SFB/NB Back Post/Special Chair 2,258 
			  BodyBilt Specialist Chair-BodyBilt J2504/A/SS/4Arm/G1 Liberty Blue 1,661 
			  J2504/A/SS/4 ARM/G1 fabric 1,565 
			  OP26B OPERA 26 backrest. backrest for OP26 model 1,410 
			
			 2009 RH LOGIC 4 + 2 seat COMP GAJA navy, 8S rotation adjustable A 1,466 
			  Total Double Seater leather, silver base 1,323 
			  OPERA 26 chair 1,076 
			  Total single seater Leather silver base 966 
			  OP30-5 OPERA 30-5 Chair. Medium back-medium seat 868 
			
			 2010 NOUFEL-OP30-6 chair long back medium seat. Rocking action. 1,322 
			  OP26WA OPERA 26 arm chair. AMP10 wide long back 1,148 
			  OP26ALS4 OPERA 26 armchair 805 
			  Two Seater Tub Chair 546 
			  Chair Long back with 3D headrest, Inflatable lumbar support 529 
		
	
	The Department entered into a 20 year PFI contract in 1998 for the provision of fully fitted and serviced accommodation for which the Department pays an all inclusive unitary charge. Furniture is one of the services provided but the cost of it cannot be disaggregated from the unitary charge. The information provided here relates solely to chairs which were procured separately (not within the contract price) for large projects. The majority of the five most expensive chairs are specialist items and have been provided for disabled staff.

Incapacity Benefit: Scotland

Eilidh Whiteford: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions for what reasons northern Scotland was chosen for the trial reform of incapacity benefit.

Chris Grayling: The project has selected two locations for the trial, Burnley and Aberdeen.
	Incapacity benefit customers within these locations are considered representative of the overall incapacity benefit caseload. The trial approach, involving these locations will enable data to be compared across a broad cross section of customers so that we can gain an early insight into the experience of customers undergoing the incapacity benefit migration process and customer journey.

New Deal Schemes: Expenditure

Matthew Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the costs to the public purse was of the New Deal in each year between 1997-98 and 2002-03; what assessment he made of the effectiveness of that scheme in that period; and how many incapacity benefit claimants there were in total.

Chris Grayling: The cost to the public purse of the New Deals is as follows. Figures are also shown separately for the New Deal for Disabled People.
	
		
			  Programme and Administration expenditure on New Deals 1997-2003( 1) 
			  Period  Yearly outturn for New Deal programmes (£ million) 
			 1997-98 43 
			 1998-99 314 
			 1999-2000 535 
			 2000-01 565 
			 2001-02 629 
			 2002-03 614 
		
	
	
		
			  Programme and Administration expenditure on NDDP 1997-2003 
			  Period  Yearly outturn for New Deal for Disabled People (£ million) 
			 1997-98 0 
			 1998-99 1 
			 1999-2000 22 
			 2000-01 14 
			 2001-02 10 
			 2002-03 31 
			 (1) Notes: 1. Yearly outturn data includes programme and administrative expenditure but excludes the cost of AME training allowances. 2. The figures for 2002-03 include an estimate of administrative expenditure. 3. These figures are available in the Departmental Report 2009 which is available in the Library. 
		
	
	The total numbers of IB customers over the same period are as follows.
	
		
			  Incapacity Benefit Caseload 1997-2003( 2) 
			  Date as at November:  Incapacity Benefit and Severe Disablement Allowance claimants 
			 1997 2,837,500 
			 1998 2,767,600 
			 1999 2,738,130 
			 2000 2,764,140 
			 2001 2,787,710 
			 2002 2,818,480 
			 2003 2,822,270 
			 (2) Notes: 1. November 1997 to November 1998 figures are based on sample data and are therefore subject to a degree of sampling variation. 2. 5% sample figures rounded to the nearest 100, and 100% caseloads to the nearest 10. 3. 5% sample figures have been uprated using 5% proportions against 100% Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study (WPLS) totals.  Sources: 1. 1997-98 figures: Information Directorate 5% samples. 2. 1999 onwards: DWP Information Directorate: WPLS 100% data. 
		
	
	NDDP resulted in a seven percentage point increase in the proportion of customers who were in employment 24 months after starting the programme, and an 11 percentage point increase for existing customers.
	http://research.dwp.gov.uk/asd/asd5/rports2007-2008/rrep430.pdf

Pregnant Women: Grants

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many  (a) individuals and  (b) individuals on low incomes received the Sure Start Maternity Grant in (i) England and (ii) the West Midlands in each year since 2002.

Steve Webb: The available information is in the following table.
	
		
			  Number of Sure Start Maternity Grant awards made by financial year 
			   England  West Midlands( 1) 
			 2002-03(2) 199,010 n/a 
			 2003-04 204,310 26,380 
			 2004-05 203,480 26,560 
			 2005-06 205,750 26,410 
			 2006-07 205,890 26,740 
			 2007-08 211,210 27,890 
			 2008-09 229,030 30,790 
			 2009-10 240,200 31,310 
			 (1) The West Midlands has been interpreted as the Government Office Region of that name. (2) Data for 2002-03 for the West Midlands Government Office Region is not available, because one Social Fund district then straddled the border between the West Midlands and the East Midlands Government Office Regions. (Data is only available by Social Fund district.)  Notes: 1. Due to the qualifying conditions for Sure Start Maternity Grants all individuals who receive an award are classed as being on low income. 2. The information above includes Sure Start Maternity Grants awarded on re-consideration or appeal. 3. The number of Sure Start Maternity Grant awards has been rounded to the nearest 10.  Source: DWP Social Fund Policy, Budget and Management Information System.

Retirement

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the effect on life expectancy of members of each socio-economic group of raising the retirement age.

Steve Webb: Any equal increase in state pension age does have a greater impact on socio-economic groups with lower life expectancy than those with higher life expectancy. We need to deal with the underlying reasons for the variation in life expectancy.
	There are no official projections of life expectancy by socio-economic group. However data on the change in life expectancy at age 65 by socio-economic group between 1972-76 and 2002-05 are available and presented in the following table:
	
		
			  Change in life expectancy between 1972-76 and 2002-05 at age 65 by social class, men and women, England and Wales 
			  Socio-economic group  Increase in life expectancy between 1972-76 and 2002-05 (years) 
			Men  Women 
			 I Professional 4.3 2.9 
			 II Managerial and technical 4.7 3.8 
			 IIIN Skilled non-manual 4.9 2.1 
			 IIIM Skilled manual 4.1 2.4 
			 IV Partly skilled 3.5 2.0 
			 V Unskilled 2.5 1.1 
			  All non-manual (I, II, IIIN) 4.8 3.0 
			  All manual (IIIM, IV, V) 3.8 2.0 
			  Notes:  1. Figures are period life expectancy, meaning they do not take account of improvements in mortality of these cohorts over time.  2. Data only covers England and Wales. There is no information on the other countries of the United Kingdom  3. Socio-economic groups I and V comprise a small percentage of the population. Data for these groups should be interpreted with caution, particularly for women.  4. The socio-economic classification is based on the occupational status of the individual, their spouse or parent.   Source:   ONS Longitudinal Study. 
		
	
	All socio-economic groups saw a significant increase in life expectancy between 1972-76 and 2002-05.
	Variations in life expectancy for different socio-economic groups will be considered as part of the review into increasing the state pension age to 66, announced on 24 June.

State Retirement Pensions

Virendra Sharma: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the level of the basic state pension in-year under the policies applied in the previous Parliament for  (a) 2011-12,  (b) 2012-13,  (c) 2013-14 and  (d) 2014-15.

Steve Webb: The coalition Government are providing a triple guarantee that the basic state pension will rise each year by the highest of earnings, prices or 2.5%. For 2011, we will additionally ensure that the increase will not be lower than it would have been under the previous uprating arrangements.
	The previous Government introduced a statutory requirement to restore the earnings link by the end of this parliament as stated in the May 2006 White Paper:
	"During the next Parliament, we will re-link the uprating of the basic State Pension to average earnings. Our objective, subject to affordability and the fiscal position, is to do this in 2012, but in any event by the end of the next Parliament at the latest. We will make a statement on the precise date at the beginning of the next Parliament."
	The following table provides projected levels of the basic state pension depending on which year between 2011 and 2015 the earnings link is restored. In each scenario we assume that the basic state pension is increased by RPI inflation until the restoration of the earnings link. Estimates use the Office for Budget Responsibility's forecasts for growth published in the Budget of 22 June 2010.
	The rates are indicative only as actual levels of inflation and earnings may differ from forecasts.
	
		
			  Level of the basic state pension, standard rate on own contributions, weekly amount 
			  £ 
			   Year of earnings link restoration 
			  Level of BSP in:  2011-12  2012-13  2013-14  2014-15  2015-16 
			 April 2011 99.50 101.85 101.85 101.85 101.85 
			 April 2012 101.50 103.90 105.30 105.30 105.30 
			 April 2013 103.65 106.10 107.50 108.45^ 108.45 
			 April 2014 107.70 110.25 111.70 112.70 111.90

State Retirement Pensions

Nick Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what proportion of expenditure on the basic state pension was paid  (a) to (i) men and (ii) women and  (b) to recipients in each income decile in the latest period for which figures are available.

Steve Webb: The information is as follows:
	
		
			  (a) Expenditure on state pension by gender in 2009-10, GB and overseas, nominal terms 
			  £ billion 
			   Men  Women 
			 Basic state pension 22.9 30.8 
			 Additional pension 6.9 5.8 
			 Total state pension 29.8 36.6 
			  Notes:   1. Basic state pension includes expenditure on graduated retirement benefit.  2. Additional pension includes expenditure on state second pension, the state earnings related pension scheme, and all lump-sum payments for deferred claims of state pension.   Source:  DW P statistical and accounting data. 
		
	
	 (b) Information on the proportion of the expenditure on basic state pension by income deciles is not available exactly as requested. Information set out in the following table shows the proportion of the expenditure on overall state pension (basic state pension and additional pension) by equivalised household income deciles on an after housing cost basis. Estimates are derived from the Family Resources Survey and are based on a three-year average to help take account of small sample sizes in certain deciles and statistical variation across the years.
	
		
			  Proportion of expenditure on overall state pension (basic state pension and additional pension) by equivalised income decile based on pensioners only, Great Britain, 2006-07 to 2008-09 (after housing costs) 
			   Percentage 
			 Bottom decile 8 
			 Second decile 9 
			 Third decile 10 
			 Fourth decile 10 
			 Fifth decile 10 
			 Sixth decile 11 
			 Seventh decile 11 
			 Eighth decile 11 
			 Ninth decile 11 
			 Top decile 10 
			  Notes:  1. Estimates are derived from the Family Resources Survey and are based on a three-year average to help take account of small sample sizes in certain deciles and statistical variation across the years.  2. Estimates are rounded to the nearest percentage point, so the deciles may not sum to 100% due to rounding.  3. The income measures used to derive the estimates shown employ the same methodology as the Department for Work and Pensions publication "Households Below Average Income" series.  4. The quintiles and deciles are derived using OECD equalisation factors.  5. The Family Resources Survey is known to undercount receipt of certain benefits. This methodology assumes that this undercount is spread proportionally across deciles.

Unemployment Benefits

Nick Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many young people  (a) had been claiming unemployment benefit for more than six months on 31 December 1992 and  (b) claiming jobseeker's allowance for more than six months on the latest date for which figures are available.

Nick Hurd: I have been asked to reply.
	The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	 Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated July 2010:
	As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking how many young people (a) had been claiming unemployment benefit for more than six months on 31 December 1992 and (b) claiming jobseeker's allowance for more than six months on the latest date for which figures are available. (10859)
	The Office for National Statistics (ONS) compiles the number of claimants of Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA) from the Jobcentre Plus administrative system.
	The number of young people claiming unemployment benefit in the United Kingdom for more than six months on 31 December 1992 is unavailable. The earliest available data is for February 1994.
	The number of 18-24 year olds claiming unemployment benefit for more than six months in February 1994 was 357,180. The number of 18-24 year olds claiming Jobseeker's Allowance for more than six months in June 2010 was 103,230.
	National and local area estimates for many labour market statistics, including employment, unemployment and claimant count are available on the NOMIS website at:
	http://www.nomisweb.co.uk

Written Questions

Anne Begg: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he plans to answer Question  (a) 4540 and  (b) 4541, tabled on 23 June 2010 for answer on 28 June 2010, on the renaming of council tax benefit.

Steve Webb: I replied to the hon. Member's questions on 26 July 2010,  Official Report, column 757W.
	[Continued in Column107W]

Equal Opportunities: Candidates

John Robertson: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities what steps she plans to take to encourage more candidates from under-represented groups to stand at the next general election.

Lynne Featherstone: holding answer 22 July 2010
	Following the recent general election there has been an increase in the number of MPs from under-represented groups, including an increase in the number of women MPs and those from an ethnic minority background to 22% and 4% respectively. Numbers of disabled MPs and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender MPs are unknown, but we believe there is under-representation of these groups in Parliament.
	There is still more to do. That is why the Government are considering the recommendations by the Speaker's Conference on representation very carefully. We have already made an early commitment as part of our coalition agreement to introduce extra support for disabled people who want to become MPs, councillors or other elected officials.
	The Equality Act will allow political parties to have selection arrangements for candidates, designed to reduce inequalities, including all women shortlists until the end of 2030. These Provisions will come in to force in October 2010 during the first wave of implementation of the Act.
	The Government Equalities Office has commissioned research to understand the barriers faced by lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people participating in civil society. This is looking at a broad range of ways to participate, including standing for Parliament. In light of the findings of the research, we will consider what further steps we can take to support lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people to participate visibly, including developing tools to support those who want to participate but are unsure how to.
	I look forward to working closely with the Deputy Prime Minister to ensure that equality and diversity are at the heart of the constitutional reform agenda.

Gaza: Humanitarian Aid

Stephen Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent reports he has received on  (a) the access arrangements and  (b) the daily number of laden goods vehicles transiting the Karni crossing to Gaza.

Alan Duncan: The only goods currently permitted through the Karni crossing into Gaza are those which can be transferred via the conveyor belt. This includes grain, animal feed, and aggregates.
	Statistics compiled by the UN Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) show that 604 truckloads worth of goods entered Gaza through Karni between 1 and 23 August. With Karni currently operating two days per week, this equates to an average of 86 truckloads per day.
	Data on import volumes into Gaza is published online by the UN at:
	http://www.ochaopt.org/GazaCrossings.aspx?id=1010003

Gaza: Humanitarian Aid

Stephen Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent reports he has received on the truckload capacity of the Kerem Shalom crossing point for imports and exports to Gaza, excluding fuel.

Alan Duncan: According to the United Nations Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), 924 truckloads of goods entered Gaza through Kerem Shalom in the period 8 to 12 August. The highest daily amount entering Gaza was 211 truckloads on 9 August. Since the beginning of August Israel has expanded the import capacity of Kerem Shalom to 250 truckloads. However there is currently no capacity for processing exports.
	Data on import volumes entering Gaza is published online by the UN at
	http://www.ochaopt.org/GazaCrossings.aspx?id=1010003

Overseas Trade

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether he plans to publish a new strategy on trade and development.

Andrew Mitchell: The Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills (Vince Cable) is developing a White Paper on trade. I will be working closely with him and with Lord Brittan, the Government's trade adviser, to ensure that this White Paper sets out an ambitious trade agenda that supports both UK businesses and wealth creation that advances global poverty reduction.

Prisoners: Video Games

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  how many prisoners have  (a) gaming consoles and  (b) digital televisions in their cells; and what channels are available to prisoners with televisions in their cells;
	(2)  what guidance his Department provides to prisons about the eligibility of prisoners in each category to have access to  (a) Sky,  (b) digital television and  (c) gaming consoles in their cells.

Crispin Blunt: The number of prisoners who have gaming consoles in their cells is not held centrally and could be found only at disproportionate cost.
	Since 23 July 2008, no public money has been used to purchase games consoles or games. A one-off survey in 2008 identified that at that time over 11,000 prisoners had games consoles in their possession. This figure has not been updated since then and there are no plans to do so now that no consoles are provided at public expense.
	Only prisoners on the enhanced level of the Incentives and Earned Privileges scheme are allowed to have in possession or to use games consoles that have been purchased with their own money or given to them by family or friends. The current policy is set out in PSI 32/2008: Restricting Prisoner Access to Games Consoles which is available in the Libraries of both Houses.
	Access to in-cell television is one of the key earnable privileges of the Incentives and Earned Privileges scheme. PSO 4000 Incentives and Earned Privileges sets out the current policy and is available in the Libraries of both Houses. Prisoners pay a rental charge for their television sets. Prisoners who do not reach the standards of behaviour expected lose their right to in-cell television.
	No prisoners have digital televisions sets in their cells. In line with the rest of the population, prisons are preparing for the switchover from analogue to digital broadcasting. In the 62 establishments where digital channels are available, and where prisoners have earned Standard or Enhanced Privileges under the IEP scheme, prisoners have access to nine free-to-view channels in-cell. These are BBC1, BBC2, ITV1, Channel 4, Channel 5, Sky News Sport (E4 in female prisons), ITV3. VIVA and Film 4. Governors have discretion to change any of these channels to other free-to-view channels if they wish.
	In addition a number of prisoners have non-subscription set top boxes bought with their own money. However, in October 2006, public sector prisons were instructed that no new set top boxes were to be allowed as they will not operate with the digital head-end conversion system, although existing ones could remain until the digital equipment was installed.
	No prisoners in public sector prisons have satellite television in their cells. It is available in association areas only in two public sector prisons. In contracted prisons, approximately 4,070 prisoners had access to satellite TV in their cells as of 10 December 2009.

Departmental Pensions

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the cost was of pension contributions incurred by  (a) her Department and (b) each (i) non-departmental public body and (ii) executive agency for which she is responsible in each region of England in each of the last three financial years; and what the planned expenditure is for 2010-11.

Richard Benyon: The cost of pension contributions incurred by the Department, its executive agencies and non-departmental public bodies in each of the last three financial years and planned expenditure for 2010-11 is shown in the following table. It has not been possible to split costs by each of the English Regions as this information is not held centrally and would be available only at disproportionate cost. Data are provided for those non-departmental public bodies that are required to submit a pay remit to the core-Department. Data for DEFRA's other NDPBs are not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	
		
			  £ 
			  Organisation  2007-08  2008-09  2009-10  2010-11 
			 Core-DEFRA 25,321,000 22,757,000 19,192,000 16,600,000 
			  Executive Agencies: 
			 Animal Health 8,940,000 8,789,000 8,728,000 7,997,000 
			 Veterinary Medicines Directorate 959,000 989,000 1,019,000 1,001,000 
			 Rural Payments Agency 12,900,000 13,400,000 12,600,000 11,100,000 
			 Veterinary Laboratories Agency 6,106,000 6,075,000 5,965,000 5,906,000 
			 Food and Environment Research Agency 3,227,000 4,359,000 4,413,000 5,017,000 
			 Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science 2,777,000 2,855,000 2,829,000 2,873,000 
			  Non- departmental public bodie s: 
			 Commission for Rural Communities 489,000 431,000 523,000 523,000 
			 Marine Management Organisation n/a n/a n/a 1,294,000 
			 Sustainable Development Commission n/a n/a 319,000 319,000 
			 Consumer Council for Water 350,000 364,000 382,000 372,000 
			 Gangmasters Licensing Authority 285,000 317,000 337,000 434,000 
			 Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew 3,043,000 3,115,000 3,175,000 3,175,000 
			 Natural England 12,806,000 13,553,000 13,789,000 13,789,000 
			 Environment Agency 48,400,000 53,100,000 53,800,000 53,100,000 
			 Joint Nature Conservation Committee 695,000 711,000 731,000 762,000 
		
	
	The Marine Management Organisation was created as a non-departmental public body on 1 April 2010. Prior to this the organisation's staff were part of the core-Department and their pension contributions are included in core-DEFRA figures.
	The Sustainable Development Commission was created as a non-departmental public body on 1 April 2009. Prior to this the organisation's staff were part of the core-Department and their pension contributions are included in core-DEFRA figures.
	The Food and Environment Research Agency was created on 1 April 2009. Data prior to this relates to the former Central Science Laboratory.
	Planed expenditure on pensions contributions for 2010-11 is based on each organisation's current staff profile.

Departmental Public Bodies

Tristram Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions she has had with public bodies within her Department's area of responsibility on the proposals to be contained in the Public Bodies (Reform) Bill.

Richard Benyon: The Government are committed to increasing the accountability of public bodies and reducing their number and cost. My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State, has announced to Parliament a number of changes to the DEFRA delivery landscape. Ministers and officials from this Department have an ongoing dialogue with other Government Departments and DEFRA's delivery network including our arms-length bodies.
	Discussions are taking place across Government about the appropriate means of effecting these changes and to inform planning. The Government expect to make an announcement on the proposed Public Bodies (Reform) Bill in the autumn.

Whales: Conservation

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  if she will assess the merits requiring fishermen to take steps to reduce the number of dolphins and porpoises killed as bycatch by means of  (a) changes to net design and  (b) the fitting of an acoustic deterrent to fishing craft; and if she will make a statement;
	(2)  what estimate she made of the number of  (a) dolphins and  (b) porpoises killed as bycatch in the last 12 months; what steps she is taking to reduce the level of cetacean bycatch; and if she will make a statement.

Richard Benyon: In 2009, our detailed monitoring programme indicated by-catch mortality figures of 260 common dolphins and 620 harbour porpoises in UK Waters.
	The UK is committed to avoiding the by-catch of cetaceans wherever possible. We have and continue to undertake focused research and monitoring programmes to better understand, and so reduce, the incidental by-catch of cetaceans.
	In terms of net design, as part of a five-year research contract between the Sea Mammal Research Unit and DEFRA that ended in 2008, research was conducted into modifications to fishing gear to reduce the by-catch of small cetaceans. This research produced inconclusive results, and highlighted the need to focus effort on developing more effective deterrents to prevent capture, such as acoustic devices.
	The focus of our current research and monitoring is, therefore, to identify those fisheries responsible for high levels of cetacean by-catch, and to test acoustic deterrents that are effective at preventing cetacean bycatch in these fisheries. We are committed to finding an acoustic deterrent that is both safe for fishermen to use, and effective at deterring cetaceans from fishing gear, and eagerly await the results of this research, due in April next year.

Carbon Emissions

Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what recent estimate his Department has made of the proportion of UK carbon dioxide contribution emissions attributable to  (a) aviation,  (b) road vehicles,  (c) power stations,  (d) industry and  (e) domestic households.

Gregory Barker: The most recent year for which emissions estimates are available is 2008. These estimates were published as National Statistics 25 March 2010.
	The proportion of UK carbon dioxide emissions attributable to the sectors in question can be found in the following table. It should be noted that the figures for aviation represent domestic aviation only. We do produce an estimate of emissions from international aviation, but since there is no agreed international approach to doing so, these emissions are not included in the UK total.
	
		
			  Carbon dioxide emissions-by end-user sector 
			  Sector  CO 2  emissions (Mt)  Percentage of total 
			 Domestic aviation 2.4 0.4 
			 Road transport 131.4 24.7 
			 Power stations - - 
			 Business/industrial process 198.8 37.3 
			 Residential 145.7 27.3 
			 Other sectors 54.5 10.2 
			 Total 532.8 100.0 
		
	
	Carbon dioxide emissions from power stations totalled 173.2 Mt for the year (32.5% of total carbon dioxide emissions); these have been attributed to other "end-user" sectors in the table.
	For further information, please see the following link.
	http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/statistics/climate_change/gg_emissions/uk_emissions/uk_emissions.aspx

Carbon Emissions: ICT

Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what recent estimate his Department has made of the annual amount of carbon dioxide emissions attributable to the IT industry.

Gregory Barker: DECC does not hold any data specifically in respect of emissions from the IT industry.

Civil Nuclear Constabulary

Dan Byles: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what regard he has to pay scales for police forces set by the Secretary of State for the Home Department in establishing pay policy for the Civil Nuclear Constabulary; and if he will make a statement.

Charles Hendry: Pay policy for the CNC is the responsibility of the Civil Nuclear Police Authority (CNPA), a non-departmental public body for which my Department is responsible.
	Civil Nuclear Constabulary (CNC) police officer pay scales and other terms and conditions are linked to relevant Home Office police terms and conditions, and remuneration is determined by the established link with the outcome of negotiations for the police negotiating body structure for Home Office Forces. The original principles determining the basic pay of members of CNC (up to and including Chief Superintendent ranks) is that it is linked to the pay of corresponding members of the Ministry of Defence Police (MDP) which, in turn, is linked to that of Home Office Police taking account of the 95% weighting (i.e. MDP and CNC pay is set at 95% of Home Office Police force pay). Ranks above Chief Superintendent i.e. Chief Police Officer ranks have personally negotiated contracts that are aligned to Level 1.0 of the Police Negotiating Board agreed Chief Officer pay scales.

Civil Nuclear Constabulary

Dan Byles: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for the Home Department on the strategic direction of the Civil Nuclear Constabulary; and if he will make a statement.

Charles Hendry: DECC Ministers and officials meet representatives of the Civil Nuclear Constabulary and the Civil Nuclear Police Authority on a regular-basis to discuss the performance and strategic direction of the Constabulary.
	DECC Ministers and officials work closely with relevant Government Departments on matters relating to the strategic direction and operation of the Civil Nuclear Constabulary, including the Home Office, given its wider responsibilities for national security, counter terrorism and policing.

Civil Nuclear Constabulary

Dan Byles: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what arrangements there are for the  (a) oversight,  (b) regulation and  (c) strategic direction of the Civil Nuclear Constabulary.

Charles Hendry: The Civil Nuclear Constabulary (CNC) is responsible for operational policing to meet the regulatory requirements to protect UK civil nuclear installations and nuclear material during transport, it is the executive arm of the Civil Nuclear Police Authority (CNPA), a non-departmental public body for which DECC is responsible.
	The CNPA was set up by the Energy Act 2004 and came into being in April 2005. Its role is to "secure the maintenance of an efficient and effective constabulary" and the primary function of the CNC is to protect civil licensed nuclear sites and safeguard nuclear material during transport in the UK and elsewhere.
	The Office for Civil Nuclear Security (OCNS) sets the regulatory requirements for the security of UK nuclear installations through the Nuclear Industries Security Regulations 2003 (as amended). OCNS does so on the basis of the Nuclear Industries Malicious Capabilities (Planning) Assumptions (NIMCA) and assesses the vulnerabilities of individual civil nuclear installations, agreeing site security plans with holders of nuclear material and transport plans and the testing security arrangements at sites through exercises. These plans will include the role of the CNC at the sites where they are deployed.
	In addition, CNC is subject to inspection by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary. The CNPA is responsible for setting the strategic direction of the CNC. Under the Energy Act 2004, it is required to publish a Strategic Policing Plan each year setting out the Police Authority's medium and long-term strategies for policing by the Constabulary during the three year period beginning with that year. This plan must be sent to the DECC Secretary of State.
	DECC Ministers and officials meet representatives of CNC, CNPA and OCNS on a regular basis to discuss the performance and strategic direction of the Constabulary and the wider issues of ensuring there is a robust framework for civil nuclear security in the UK.

Civil Nuclear Constabulary

Dan Byles: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what arrangements exist between  (a) his Department,  (b) the Home Department,  (c) the Health and Safety Executive and  (d) the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills on the operation of the Civil Nuclear Constabulary.

Charles Hendry: DECC works closely with relevant Government Departments on matters relating to the operation of the Civil Nuclear Constabulary, including the Home Office, given its wider responsibilities for national security, counter terrorism and policing. DECC also works as appropriate with the Health and Safety Executive which regulates civil nuclear security, on matters relating to civil nuclear security, including the policing of civil nuclear sites. DECC works with other Departments as appropriate, including the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, which has a more limited interest via the Shareholder Executive's role with regard to those sites owned by the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority where the Civil Nuclear Constabulary operates.

Departmental Assets

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change which former  (a) buildings and  (b) land owned by (i) his Department and (ii) (A) non-departmental public bodies and (B) agencies for which his Department is responsible have been sold since May 2005; what the sale price of each was at the time of sale; and to which body the funds from the sale accrued in each case.

Gregory Barker: The information requested is as follows:
	(i) The Department of Energy and Climate Change does not own land and buildings.
	(ii) The Department is responsible for four non departmental public bodies of which The Committee on Climate Change and Civil Nuclear Police Authority have not disposed any former buildings or land since May 2005.
	Land and Buildings disposed by The Coal Authority and Nuclear Decommissioning Authority are shown in the following table.
	The buildings NDA has sold since May 2005 are:
	
		
			   Address  Sale value (£) 
			 2009 Northbanks House, Thurso, Caithness 360,000 
			 2009 Peakes Cottage, Bradwell, Essex 603,000 
			 2008 Gridyard, Capenhurst, Cheshire 205,000 
			 2010 Redundant Breakheart Quarry, Gloucestershire 0 
			 2010 Sports and Social Club, Springfields, Lancashire 198,000 
			 2006 Depot, Littlebrook, Kent 350,000 
			 2010 Springfields Nuclear Site (1)- 
			 (1) Not sold-transferred on a long lease, including staff and pensions liability. 
		
	
	Land NDA has sold since May 2005 is:
	
		
			   Address  Sale value (£) 
			 2009 Potential development land at Bradwell, Essex 160,000,000 
			  Note: Above are subject to commercial confidentiality clauses. 
		
	
	The buildings Coal Authority has sold since May 2005 are:
	
		
			  Date  Address  Sale value (£) 
			 25 July 2006 146 Holcombe Drive, Burnley, Lancashire 70,300.00 
			 13 November 2006 Shaftholme Pumping Station, Shaftholme Road, Shaftholme, Doncaster, South Yorkshire 1.00 
			 22 January 2007 The former Clipstone Colliery pit head baths and canteen, Clipstone, Notts 1,028,808.00 
			 06 March 2007 22 Jamphlars Road, Cardenden, Fife 500.00 
			 07 March 2008 Caerphilly Tar Plant, Caerphilly, South Wales 1.00 
			 08 April 2008 2 Amorys Holt Close, Maltby, Yorks 34,000.00 
			 14 April 2008 3 Pentwyn Terrace, Crumlin, Newport, Gwent 10,000.00 
			 26 May 2008 2 Hawthorne Avenue, Coalsnaughton, Tillicoultry, 10,000.00 
			 14 October 2008 Askern Hydro-Site of Alexander House/Doncaster Rural Trust Youth Centre 0.00 
			 20 October 2008 145 Torbothie Road, Shotts, Lanarkshire ML7 5NB 1,000.00 
			 17 June 2010 Maesteg Washery, Maesteg, Bridgend County Borough (See also LTAF 2001) 170,000.00 
		
	
	Land Coal Authority has sold since May 2005 is:
	
		
			  Date  Address  Sale value 
			 12 May 2005 Land at Bryn Dolwen and Llanfabon Drive, Bedwas, Caerphilly 1.00 
			 24 May 2005 Cuttlehill Farm (The Taft), Crossgates, Fife 150,000.00 
			 22 July 2005 Disposal former Bolsover Colliery Tips, Woodhouse Lane, Bolsover, Chesterfield, Derbyshire 260,157.00 
			 16 August 2005 Land rear of 70 Benhar Read, Shott's, Lanarkshire 1,000:00 
			 5 October 2005 Former Ystrad Mine, Glanamman,-Ammanford, Carmarthenshire 4,000.00 
			 22 November 2005 Land to the West of Newark Road, Ollerton at the former Ollerton Colliery site Notts. 0.00 
			 24 November 2005 Park Hall Road, Denby, Ripley, Derbyshire (Part of the former Denby Hall Colliery site) 4,000.00 
			 29 November 2005 Two sections of track at Polbower, Kirkconnel, Sanquahar, Dumfriesshire 0.00 
			 l December 2005 Land at Polkemmet Minewater Treatment Facility, Whitburn, West Lothian 40,000.00 
			 2 December 2005 Land at the rear of Corporation House, Corporation Road, Loughor, Swansea 500.00 
			 5 December 2005 150m(2) or thereabouts of land situate within the curtilage of 46 Westfield Lane, Kippax, Leeds, West Yorkshire 0.00 
			 8 December 2005 Deed of surrender, Pipeline at Station Road, Shiremoor, Co Durham 0.00 
			 2 February 2006 Land adjacent to 63 High Street, Swallownest, Sheffield, South Yorkshire 1.00 
			 17 February 2006 Land at Rosehill, Standburn Road, Avonbridge, Falkirk, Stirlingshire 5,000.00 
			 8 March 2006 Land at Derran Drive/Bridgend Place/The Craigs 4,400.00 
			 12 April 2006 Land at Manchester Road West, Little Hulton, Greater Manchester, Lancashire 15,000.00 
			 22 May 2006 Access road No. 32 and 32a Douglas Street, Carluke, Lanarkshire 2,300.00 
			 25 May 2006 Site of Brierley Industrial Park, Stoneyford Road, Sutton in Ashfield, Nottingham 13,500.00 
			 l July 2006 Frances Colliery, Dysart, Kirkcaldy, Fife 11,500.00 
			 18 August 2006 Disposal land at Nantgarw, near Caerphilly 10,000.00 
			 23 October 2006 Land at the former Maypole Colliery, off Park Lane, Abram, Wigan, Lancashire 50,000.00 
			 23 October 2006 Land at the former Maypole Colliery, off Park Lane, Abram, Wigan, Lancashire (Supplementary toLTAFDoc.No.1727) 0.00 
			 21 November 2006 Land off Rotherham Road, New Houghton, Mansfield, Nottinghamshire 30,000.00 
			 27 November 2006 Site of the former Whitwell Colliery Spoil Heap, Whitwell, Derbyshire 0.00 
			 1 December 2006 Plot 3 Cardiff Road, Aberaman, Aberdare 20,000.00 
			 20 December 2006 Land at Taff Merthyr Garden Village (Land omitted from previous sales before privatisation therefore would not have transferred under CARS7) 1.00 
			 21 December 2006 Lots 1 to 6 at the former Erownlees Opencast Site, Brindley Ford, Stoke on Trent, Staffordshire 169,000.00 
			 11 January 2007 Land situated off Berry Hill Lane Berry Hill, Mansfield, Nottinghamshire 390,000.00 
			 5 February 2007 Land at Hengoed Avenue, Crfn Hengoed, Hengoed, Mid Glamorgan 1,500.00 
			 13 February 2007 Land at Whittlebrook Reservoir, rear of 98 Hopefold Drive 1,080,00 
			 19 February 2007 Land at Whittlebrook Reservoir, rear of 92 Hopefold Drive 1,180.00 
			 l March 2007 0.572 acre or thereabouts of land, being part of the former Warsop Colliery access road at Warsop Vale, Mansfield 196,196.00 
			 l March 2007 0.03 acre or thereabouts of land off Doncaster Road, Buckingham Road, Denaby, Doncaster, South Yorkshire 0.00 
			 l March 2007 Land at Whittlebrook Reservoir, rear of 90 Hopefold Drive 2,840.00 
			 14 March 2007 Land at Whittlebrook Reservoir, rear of 94 Hopefold Drive 880.00 
			 16 March 2007 Winstone Mine, Forgeside, Blaenavon 8,000.00 
			 15 May 2007 Land at Delves Lane, Consett, County Durham 20,000.00 
			 15 May 2007 Land at Lumley Sixth Pit, Woodstone Village, Fence Houses, Houghton-le-Spring 15,000.00 
			 6 July 2007 Land adjacent 18 Lawrence Street, Kelty, Fife KY4 OAB 250.00 
			 1 August 2007 Land at Kirk Road, Shotts, Lanarkshire 12,500.00 
			 16 August 2007 Land adjacent Hafod Tip, Wrexham 250.00 
			 10 December 2007 Land at Heol Brown, Ty Croes, Ammanford, Carmarthenshire 100.00 
			 11 January 2008 Land at Roman Way, Dordon, Tamworth, Staffordshire 22,500.00 
			 18 January 2008 Land at 8 Kirton Court, Kirton, Overton, Notts 600.00 
			 24 January 2008 Land off Westerton Road, Coundon 3,000.00 
			 29 January 2008 Land at South Stane Farm, Shorts, Lanarkshire 0.00 
			 15 February 2008 Land at Hill Street, Rhymney, Tredegar 45,000.00 
			 31 March 2008 0.0002 Ha or thereabouts of land off Shaftesbury Avenue, Keresley End, Coventry, Warwickshire 0.00 
			 7 April 2008 Camphill Estate, Nuneaton 0.00 
			 8 April 2008 Site of the former 14 and 16 Ivy House Lane, Bilston, West Midlands 46,000.00 
			 8 April 2008 Walkden Reservoir, Walkden, Worsley, Manchester, Lancashire 34,000.00 
			 8 April 2008 Land between 29 and 31 The Crescent, Sunnyside, Rotherham 72,000.00 
			 8 April 2008 Plots of the former 5-9 Brynhyfryd Street, Cwmnaman, Aberdare, South Wales 52,000.00 
			 4 Jun 2008 Torbothe Footpath, off Southfield Avenue, Torbothe, Shorts, Lanarkshire 0.00 
			 23 July 2008 Land adjoining Calverton Miners Welfare, Hollinwood Lane, Calverton, Nottinghamshire 1.00 
			 24 July 2008 Land at Coalville Estate, Weston Coyney, Stoke on Trent 1,000.00 
			 4 August 2008 Land adjoining Tyn y Wern, Ynysybwl, Pontypridd 250.00 
			 4 August 2008 Land adjacent to Glendale, Oakley, Fife, KYI2 9LA 4,500.00 
			 15 August 2008 Land at Golwg-y-Bryn, Severn Sisters, South Wales, (via auction-reserve value £5,000) 5,000.00 
			 15 August 2008 Land at Tonna Road, Nantyffyllon, South Wales (via auction-reserve value £30,000) 30,000.00 
			 1 September 2008 Allotments Gardens and Land at Terrace Lane, Pleasley, Mansfield, Nottinghamshire 7,000.00 
			 21 October 2008 Land at Tan-y-Coed Street, Penrhiwcerber, South Wales (via an auction held by Colliers CRE in London on 21 July 2008) 25,000.00 
			 28 October 2008 Land at Blackfaulds Road and Wardlow Street, Coalsnaughton, Clackmannanshire 300,000.00 
			 20 November 2008 Land to the West of Newark Rd, Ollerton at the Former Ollerton Colliery Site, Notts 0.00 
			 l December 2008 The site of 272 Cwmamman Road, Glanamman, Ammanford, SA18 2AF 6,000.00 
			 12 December 2008 Aber Farmlands, Ogmore Vale, Bridgend, South Wales 95,000.00 
			 12 December 2008 Land adjacent to No 11 South View, Mickley Square, Stocksfield 0.00 
			 12 January 2009 Land off The Leazes, Burnopfield, County Durham 0.00 
			 25 March 2009 Land at Sherwood Baths, Mansfield Woodhouse, Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, NG19 7NL 0.00 
			 8 May 2009 0.085 Hectare of land being access to Woodside House, Bramcote, Waron, Tamworth, Staffordshire 1,111.00 
			 26 May 2009 Land at the rear of School Road, Banwen, Neath 0.00 
			 5 August 2009 Land at Beighton Sheffield 4,500.00 
			 24 September 2009 0.34 hectares or thereabouts being part of the land at Coach Road, Ripley, Derbyshire 3,000.00 
			 19 October 2009 Disposal Walkmill Lane Tip, off Walkmill Lane, Cannock, Staffordshire 25,000.00 
			 21 December 2009 Land At Ashby De La Zouch and Measham 51,124.00 
			 31 December 2009 West Main Street, Blackburn, West Lothian 1,500.00 
			 26 January 2010 Land at 4 Heol Graigwen, Penyrheol, Caerphilly 0.00 
			 10 May 2010 Land adjacent to Nottingham Road, Ashby de la Zouch, Leicestershire 14,000.00 
			 17 Jun 2010 Additional strips of land at Maesteg Washery, Maesteg, Bridgend (See also LTAF 1914) 0.00 
		
	
	The value at current prices could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	The income from disposals is normally credited to the Delegated Expenditure Limit (DEL) of the Department and reduces the requirement for funding by the Treasury. For two Coal Authority disposals totalling £218,300, the income from disposals originally funded from grant in aid was paid to the Treasury.

Departmental Motor Vehicles

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what the expenditure on vehicles of  (a) his Department and  (b) each (i) non-departmental public body and (ii) executive agency for which he is responsible in (A) Scotland, (B) Wales, (C) each region of England and (D) Northern Ireland was in the last three financial years; and what the planned expenditure is in each case for 2010-11.

Gregory Barker: The Department of Energy and Climate Change has not incurred any expenditure on vehicles since it was established on 3 October 2008 and does not plan to in 2010-11. The Department is responsible for four non-departmental public bodies who have incurred expenditure as follows:
	1. The Committee on Climate Change has spent nothing on vehicles since its inception on 26 November 2008 and has no plans to spend anything in 2010-11.
	2. The Coal Authority spent £190,592 in 2007/08, £186,019 in 2008/09, £193,639 in 2009-10 and the planned expenditure for 2010-11 is £234,220. The breakdown by regions can be provided only at disproportionate-cost.
	3. The expenditure incurred and planned by Civil Nuclear Police Authority (CNPA) and the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) by regions is shown in the following table:
	
		
			  £ 
			   2007-08  2008-09  2009-10  2010-11  (p lanned ) 
			  CNPA 
			 Wales - 21,769 - - 
			 Scotland 70,234 65,520 45,394 209,000 
			 East Midlands-n/a - - - - 
			 East of England - 21,769 - - 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber - 45,688 - 23,000 
			 Greater London-n/a - - - - 
			 North East England-n/a - - - - 
			 North West England 145,645 210,118 69,751 178,000 
			 South East England 25,739  48,880 95,000 
			 South West England - 44,159 22,697 - 
			 West Midlands-n/a - - - - 
			 Northern Ireland-n/a - - - - 
			 Total 241,618 409,023 186,722 505,000 
			  
			  NDA 
			 Wales - - - - 
			 Scotland - - - - 
			 East Midlands-n/a - - - - 
			 East of England - - - - 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber - - - - 
			 Greater London-n/a - - - - 
			 North East England-n/a - - - - 
			 North West England 24,909 36,503 31,316 12,156 
			 South East England 3,324 3,324 3,267 3,256 
			 South West England - - - - 
			 West Midlands-n/a - - - - 
			 Northern Ireland-n/a - - - - 
			 Total 28,233 39,827 34,583 15,412

Energy: Prices

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if he will bring forward proposals in the Energy and Green Economy Bill to ensure the provision of information on the costs transferred by energy suppliers to consumers.

Charles Hendry: The Government are committed to improving the transparency of energy bills and improving information to consumers to help them understand and control their energy costs and are currently considering the extent of the information that should be included. Ofgem have produced readily available factsheets explaining energy bills which give a breakdown of the costs that make up consumer bills. Some suppliers have chosen to include example cost break downs on bills to improve transparency and we would encourage this.
	In addition, we have recently published an analysis of the estimated impacts of energy and climate change policies on energy prices and bills, which provides further information on the costs of these policies. A copy of this is available online at:
	http://www.decc.gov.uk/assets/decc/What%20we%20do/UK%20energy%20supply/236-impacts-energy-climate-change-policies.pdf

Fuel Poverty: Wimbledon

Stephen Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many people in Wimbledon constituency were classified as living fuel poverty in each year since 2000.

Gregory Barker: Fuel poverty is measured at household level rather than at individual level.
	The most recently available sub-regional split of fuel poverty relates to 2006, and shows that there were around 2,200 fuel poor households in the Wimbledon constituency. In 2003 there were around 2,100 fuel poor households in the Wimbledon constituency. The methodology used for the 2006 work differs from that previously used, so care should be taken in comparing the fuel poverty levels in one area between 2003 and 2006.
	Figures for other years are not available.

Industrial Diseases: Compensation

Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many former mineworkers in  (a) Don Valley constituency,  (b) Doncaster and  (c) South Yorkshire have received coal health compensation scheme payments; and what the total sums paid were in each case.

Charles Hendry: The number of former miners in Don Valley, Doncaster and South Yorkshire who have received payments under the Coal Health Compensation schemes for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), Vibration White Finger (VWF), together with compensation claims for other conditions and the amount paid in each of those areas is shown in the following table as at 25 July 2010.
	
		
			  Total claims and damages paid, less compensation recovery unit (CRU) to miners in the Don Valley, Doncaster and South Yorkshire constituencies 
			   Number of claims  Damages paid (£) 
			  Area  COPD  VWF  Other  COPD  VWF  Other 
			 Don Valley 8,1108 T.481 1,473 34,570,581 38,161,147 1,553,706 
			 Doncaster 34,859 14,807 6,148- 149,566,317 166,737,911 6,331,154 
			 South Yorkshire 54,697 22,072 9,448 224,448,470 238,661,148 9,963,020 
			  Notes: 1. Don Valley: (Don Valley) 2. Doncaster: (Barnsley East and Mexborough, Don Valley, Doncaster Central, Doncaster North). 3. South Yorkshire: (Don Valley, Doncaster Central, Doncaster North, Barnsley East and Mexborough, Wentworth, Rotherham, Rother Valley, Sheffield Hillsborough, Sheffield Heeley, Sheffield Hallam, Sheffield Brightside, Sheffield Attercliffe, Sheffield Central). 4. The figures show a small reduction to the data reported for VWF total damages in November 2009 (11 November 2009,  Official Report, column 517W). This was due to taking into account CRU payments where an issue was identified in a recent reconciliation exercise. Other movements are associated with data cleansing of claim numbers and/or changes of claimant addresses.

Sustainable Development: Finance

Chuka Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what funding his Department has provided to  (a) Transition Towns and  (b) other voluntary groups designed to increase sustainability through local activities in the last 12 months.

Gregory Barker: DECC has provided funding to Transition Towns and other community organisations over the last 12 months through the Low Carbon Communities Challenge (LCCC) and the Low Carbon Buildings Programme (LCBP).
	LCCC is a-two-year DECC-funded research programme providing financial and practical support for 22 'test-bed' communities in England, Wales and Northern Ireland to test delivery options for achieving ambitious cuts in carbon emissions at community level. The first selected projects were appointed in December 2009.
	Of the 11 communities that have been provided with funding so far, seven are community based civil society organisations. One of these is Transition Town Totnes, which has been provided with £625,000 to support their project. The other six civil society led organisations have been provided with a total of £2,593,000 in funding for their projects.
	The Low Carbon Buildings Programme-now closed to new applications-provides grants for installing microgeneration technologies and has provided funding for approximately 5,000 community-based projects over the last five years. In the financial year 2009-10, DECC provided £20.58 million in funding through LCBP to projects such as housing associations, schools, churches, and other not-for-profit organisations, and the forecast expenditure for the financial year 2010-11 is £53.41 million.

Wind Power

Chris Heaton-Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what research his Department has  (a) commissioned and  (b) evaluated on the efficiency and effectiveness of on-shore wind turbines in the last 10 years; how much electricity was generated by wind turbines in the last 12 months; and what the average cost per unit of electricity generated by each generating technology was in 2009.

Charles Hendry: The Department for Energy and Climate Change, and two of its predecessor departments (the Department for Business Enterprise and Regulatory Reform and the Department of Trade and Industry) commissioned the following pieces of research containing information on the generation costs and efficiencies of electricity generation technologies, including onshore wind:
	ETSU (2002) New and Renewable Energy: Prospects in the UK for the 21st century: Supporting Analysis, available at:
	http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/what_we_do/uk_supply/energy_mix/renewable/policy/renew_obs/key_stages/ro_order_2002/ro_order_2002.aspx
	Oxera/ DTT(2004)Results of Renewable Energy Modelling, available at:
	http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/tna/+/http://www.dti.gov.uk/renewables/policy/oxeraresults.pdf
	Enviros (2005) The costs of supplying renewable energy, available at:
	http://www.berr.gov.uk/files/file21118.pdf
	Energy Strategies and Redpoint (2006), Dynamics of GB Generation Investment, available at:
	http://www.berr.gov.uk/files/file31799.pdf
	Ernst & Young (2007), Impact of banding the Renewables Obligation - Costs of electricity production, available at:
	http://www.berr.gov.uk/files/file39038.pdf
	Redpoint and Trilemma (2008), Implementation of the EU2020 Renewable Target in the UK Electricity Sector - Renewable Support Schemes, available here:
	http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/consultations/cons_res/rescon_support/rescon_support.aspx
	Redpoint and Trilemma (2009), Implementation of the EU2020 Renewable Target in the UK Electricity Sector - RO Reform, available here:
	http://decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/what_we_do/uk_supply/energy_mix/renewable/res/res.aspx
	Mott Macdonald (2010), UK Electricity Generation Costs Update, available at:
	http://www.decc.gov.uk/assets/decc/Statistics/Projections/71-uk-electricity-generation-costs-update.pdf
	The Department does not formally evaluate the research of other organisations.
	The Digest of UK Energy Statistics 2010 reports that in 2009 7.6 TWh of electricity was generated by onshore wind and 1.7 TWh by offshore wind.
	The following tables are taken from Mott Macdonald (2010) and give levelised cost estimates (average generation cost per megawatt-hour) for new build plants in the main large-scale electricity generation technologies in the UK, at current engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract prices.
	It should be noted that for the purposes of presentation, the table only gives either 'FOAK' (first-of-a-kind) prices or 'NOAK' (nth-of-a-kind) prices for each technology. On offshore wind, for example, it shows offshore wind 'FOAK' prices, whereas the round 2 technology may be considered to have progressed towards 'NOAK' prices. Mott Macdonald estimate 'NOAK' offshore wind costs at £125/MWh (10% discount rate, 2009 project start at today's EPC prices).
	
		
			  Case 1: 10% discount rate, 2009 project start at today's EPC prices, with mixed FOAK/NOAK 
			  Levelised cost  Gas CC GT  Gas CCGT with CCS FOAK  ASC coal  ASC  c oal with CCS FOAK  Coal IGCC FOAK  Coal IGCC with CCS FOAK  Onshore wind  Offshore wind FOAK  Offshore wind R3 FOAK  Nuclear PWR. FOAK 
			 Capital Costs 12.4 29.8 33.4 74.1 61.7 82.0 79.2 124.1 144.6 77.3 
			 Fixed operating Coals 3.7 7.7 8.6 18.6 9.7 17.7 14.6 36.7 45.8 12.25 
			 Variable Operating Costs 2.3 3.6 2.2 4.7 3.4 4.6 __ __ __ 2.1 
			 Fuel Costs 46.9 65.0. 19.9 28.7 20.3 28.3 __ __ __ 5.3 
			 Carbon Costs 15.1 2.1 40.3 6.5 39.6 5.5 __ __ __ __ 
			 Decomm and waste fund __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ 2.1 
			 CO2 transport and storage __ 4.3 __ 9.6 __ 9.5 __ __ __ __ 
			 Steam Revenue __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ 
			 Total levelised cost 80.3 112.5 104.5 142.1 134.6 147.6 93.9 160.9 190.5. 99.0 
		
	
	
		
			  Case 1: 10% discount rate, 2009 project start at today's EPC prices, with mixed FOAK/NOAK 
			  Levelised Cost  Small business power only. FOAK  Large biomass power only. FOAK  OCGT  AD on wasted  Landfill gas  Sewage gas  Small biomass CHP. FOAK 
			 Capital Costs 55.8 46.1 7.1 63.8 25.8 42.0 91.3 
			 Fixed operating Coals 21.0 13.4 3.0 21.0 13.1 8.9 23.9 
			 Variable Operating Costs 2.5 2.5 1.5 18.6 21.1 2.1 2.8 
			 Fuel Costs 36.7 31.2 60.6 __ __ __ 54.9 
			 Carbon Costs __ __ 18.2 __ __ __ __ 
			 Decomm and waste fund __ __ __ __ __ __ __ 
			 CO2 transport and storage __ __ __ __ __ __ __ 
			 Steam Revenue __ __ __ __ __ __ 148.5 
			 Total levelised cost 116.0 93.2 90.5 103.3 60.0 54.0 172.9 
			 Net levelised cost __ __ __ __ __ __ 24.4 
		
	
	
		
			  Levelised Cost  Large biomass CHP. FOAK  10MW gas. CHP  Small GT based CHP  CCGT. CHP  Energy from waste  Hydro reservoir 
			 Capital Costs 86.8 17.2 15.1 14.3 94.9 74.2 
			 Fixed operating Coals 22.0 4.8 4.3 5.0 15.2 9.0 
			 Variable Operating Costs 2.4 2.4 2.4 1.9 56.7 - 
			 Fuel Costs 48.7 83.4 76.8 57.1 - - 
			 Carbon Costs - 25.5 23.5 18.5 - - 
			 Decomm and waste fund - - - - - - 
			 CO2 transport and storage - - - - - - 
			 Steam Revenue 135.0 56.6 45.2 27.2 - - 
			 Total levelised cost 160.0 133.4 122.1 96.7 166.8 83.2 
			 Net levelised cost 24.9 76.8 76.8 69.4 - -

Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations

William Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  how many  (a) Reaper,  (b) Predator and  (c) Phoenix unmanned aerial vehicles were deployed by the armed forces in Afghanistan in (i) 2009 and (ii) 2010;
	(2)  what estimate he has made on the number of  (a) Reaper,  (b) Predator,  (c) Watchkeeper and  (d) Phoenix unmanned aerial vehicles to be deployed by the armed forces in Afghanistan in (i) 2011, (ii) 2012, (iii) 2013, (iv) 2014 and (v) 2015.

Liam Fox: In Afghanistan, UK forces have deployed Reaper, a remotely piloted air system (RPAS). They do not use Predator or Phoenix systems.
	We do not comment on the number of RPAS deployed or likely to deploy in Afghanistan. I am withholding the information as its disclosure would, or would be likely to prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of the armed forces.

Air Force: Military Bases

Thomas Docherty: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many  (a) Ministry of Defence personnel and  (b) civilian staff were directly employed at (i) RAF Leuchars, (ii) RAF Kinloss and (iii) RAF Lossiemouth on the latest date for which figures are available.

Andrew Robathan: The figures of personnel that are directly employed at RAF Leuchars, RAF Kinloss and RAF Lossiemouth are shown in the following table:
	
		
			  Data as of April 2010 
			  Location  Personnel  Total( 1) 
			
			 Leuchars Civilian(2) 270 
			  Armed Forces(3) 980 
			
			 Kinloss Civilian(2) 310 
			  Armed Forces(3) 1,330 
			
			 Lossiemouth Civilian(2) 370 
			  Armed Forces(3) 1,810 
			 (1) Numbers have been rounded to the nearest 10. Numbers ending in five have been rounded to the nearest multiple of 20 to prevent systematic bias. Due to ongoing validation of data from the Personnel Administration System, the armed forces figures are provisional. (2) The civilian figures include the Ministry of Defence (MOD) industrial and non-industrial staff, but do not include any staff not directly employed by the MOD, such as contractors. (3) The armed forces personnel figures include regulars and full-time reservists stationed at the bases, but may differ from the actual number of people working at that location at that time due to deployments etc.

Armed Forces: Families

Helen Grant: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which organisations his Department has funded to provide welfare and support for the families of service personnel serving in the  (a) Army,  (b) Navy and  (c) Royal Air Force in each of the last 10 years.

Gerald Howarth: Each armed forces' establishment has dedicated unit welfare staff who, as serving personnel, are ideally placed to provide access to specialist welfare support on a number of topics including financial management, housing, and schooling of dependants. The Army Welfare Service, Naval Personal and Family Service and Royal Marines Welfare, and RAF Community Support provide more focused support and ensure families are put in touch with, and supported by, the most appropriate agency. Moreover, formal arrangements exist with organisations such as the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families Association (SSAFA) or HIVE Information Centres who complement the unit welfare staff when dealing with specific issues.
	In addition, arrangements may be made at a local level with other welfare organisations, for example RELATE, to respond to specific unit needs. As the information is not held centrally to identify all organisations which have received funding in each of the last 10 years, it could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Armed Forces: Families

Helen Grant: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  what recent progress has been made by his Department on increasing the level of support services available to the parents of serving military personnel;
	(2)  what support services are offered to parents of service personnel who are not named by those personnel as next of kin;
	(3)  what information is available to parents of serving military personnel who are on active service who are not named by those personnel as next of kin;
	(4)  whether his Department provides support services to the parents of military personnel under  (a) 18 and  (b) 24 years of age.

Gerald Howarth: Support to a family, irrespective of the age of the service person, is not necessarily limited to the next of kin as we will do everything we can to inform, help and advise a family not only prior to, but also during, a deployment. This normally includes a briefing by the Unit Commander on the deployment, as well as giving details of websites that allow family members to keep in touch. Single service welfare organisations are sign- posted as well as contact details provided for the Joint Casualty and Compassionate Centre.
	Should tragedy occur, it is only right that we focus our immediate attention on the recorded next of kin. Support begins by early notification and then the allocation of a visiting officer who can help with, for example, funeral arrangements, money management such as compensation payments, and accessing welfare organisations that can provide bereavement counselling. The support provided is specific to need and remains in place for as long as it is required.
	If appropriate, visiting officer support, including counselling, can be extended to parents who are not recorded as next of kin regardless of whether they live together or not.

Armed Forces: Families

Helen Grant: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much funding his Department allocated to each organisation for the purpose of providing support services to the families of service personnel in each service in each of the last 10 years.

Gerald Howarth: The information is not held centrally. Support to families is provided from a number of sources, some of which are arranged at a local level and funded accordingly. To determine the level of funding provided in each of the last 10 years would require the search of records retained at a significant number of military establishments, therefore this information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Armed Forces: Housing

Owen Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what expenditure his Department incurred on refurbishing armed forces accommodation in each of the last five years.

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what funding his Department has allocated for refurbishing armed forces accommodation in  (a) 2010 and  (b) 2011.

Andrew Robathan: "Refurbishment" is not a term used by the Ministry of Defence in regard to property. However, so far as the upgrading of service family accommodation and single-living accommodation is concerned, I refer the hon. Member to the answers I gave on 15 June 2010,  Official Report, columns 344-45W, to the hon. Member for Glasgow North East (Mr Bain) and 15 June 2010,  Official Report, column 345W, to the hon. Member for Ellesmere Port and Neston (Andrew Miller).

Departmental Buildings

Matthew Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much office space per employee his Department occupied in each year since 1997.

Gerald Howarth: Data on how much office space per employee the department occupied prior to 2007 is not held. Since April 2008, the Ministry of Defence in common with all other central Government Departments has participated in the Office of Government Commerce (OGC) Property Benchmarking Service, which captures office space utilisation of occupied offices that have a net internal area over 500 metres . This information is shown in the following table:
	
		
			   2007-08  2008-09 
			 Number of buildings benchmarked 21 23 
			 Total occupied space (square metres) 259,796 272,683 
			 Space per member of full-time equivalent staff (square metres) 13.6 13.1 
		
	
	Data for 2009-10 is currently undergoing validation. I will write to my hon. Friend when this data is available.

Departmental Contracts

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the monetary value is of his Department's contracts with its suppliers which have been cancelled under his Department's plans to achieve cost savings.

Gerald Howarth: The Ministry of Defence (MOD) is currently reviewing all aspects of defence activity as part of the Government's Strategic Defence and Security Review (SDSR). The conclusion of the SDSR is likely to require MOD to renegotiate specific contracts, but no decisions have yet been made. In the interim, MOD is participating in the actions announced by the Chancellor on 24 May to reduce public spending.
	The MOD has not yet cancelled any contracts as part of this programme of work.
	However, the MOD has suspended two projects. These are the search and rescue helicopter contract, at £4.7 billion, and long lead items for the Trident replacement programme, at £66 million.

Departmental Public Expenditure

Alun Cairns: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much his Department has spent in total in each  (a) nation and  (b) region of the UK in each of the last five years.

Andrew Robathan: Estimated direct Ministry of Defence (MOD) expenditure for the nations of the United Kingdom and the regions of for the latest five years where data are available are presented in the following tables. These estimates cover MOD expenditure on equipment, non-equipment, service and civilian personnel costs.
	
		
			  £  m illion at current prices (VAT exclusive) 
			   2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07  2007-08 
			  Nation:  
			 United Kingdom 23,720 23,630 25,540 26,080 25,920 
			 England 21,010 21,120 22,890 23,450 23,310 
			 Scotland 1,720 1,640 1,710 1,630 1,560 
			 Wales 430 360 380 410 390 
			 Northern Ireland 550 510 560 590 660 
			  Regions of England:  
			 East 2,460 2,380 2,660 2,440 2,250 
			 East Midlands 760 790 990 940 950 
			 London 1,670 1,810 1,440 1,440 1,610 
			 North East 400 350 390 440 370 
			 North West 2,190 1,960 1,920 2,360 2,140 
			 South East 5,880 6,210 7,100 6,940 7,110 
			 South West 5,650 5,750 6,350 6,560 6,510 
			 West Midlands 1,000 910 970 1,180 1,250 
			 Yorkshire and Humberside 990 970 1,060 1,150 1,130 
			  Notes: 1. Figures are rounded to the nearest £10 million. 2. All totals have been calculated using unrounded data. 3. Indirect expenditure, such as subcontracted work, is not reflected in these figures. 4. Personnel costs exclude contributions made by MOD to the Armed Forces Pensions scheme and War Pensions scheme. 
		
	
	The Ministry of Defence no longer compiles estimates of expenditure at the sub-UK areas described in the tables presented as they do not directly support policy making or operations. The last estimates relate to 2007-08.
	As a result, the complex data analysis required to produce the underlying sub-UK expenditure data is no longer performed. To produce a comparable time series beyond 2007-08 would incur disproportionate cost.

Departmental Training

Graham Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much his  (a) Department and  (b) its agencies and non-departmental public bodies spent on training for its employees in each year since 1997.

Andrew Robathan: Training and development is an integral part of the Ministry of Defence's core business whether it is providing essential job training for our civilians or training our armed forces in order to maintain a state of readiness to conduct operations in any part of the globe. In order to meet this requirement our armed forces personnel need to remain in a state of constant readiness. MOD addresses this requirement through what is known as phase training of which there are three stages.
	Phase one training is basic military training carried out at a specialist site and will last approximately seven weeks.
	Phase two training is specific job or trade training in the individual's choice of branch, for example pilot, engineer, medic etc. This training is again carried out at a specialist site and can take months or years to complete depending upon the branch trade.
	Phase three is continuation training which service personnel undergo to increase their knowledge in a specialist area.
	Annual information for each year dating back to 1997 along with a breakdown below departmental level is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	However, MOD's estimated spend on training in financial year 2009-10 was £3.3 billion. Of this, £2.5 billion was spent on military training covering phases one to three. A further £665 million was spent on other training requirements including recruitment, resettlement and cadet forces. Finally, £189 million funded the Defence Academy which provides post graduate education and the majority of command, staff, leadership, management and specialist acquisition and technology training for members of the armed forces and MOD civil servants.
	Most armed forces and civil service training is provided in house but some £210 million is provided through external providers.

Guided Weapons

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  how much has been spent on the Team Complex Weapons programme;
	(2)  how much money each Team Complex Weapons contractor has received under the Team Complex Weapons programme to date.

Peter Luff: The total public expenditure on the Team Complex Weapons programme from the start of the assessment phase in July 2008 to the end of June 2010 is some £240 million. The two Team Complex Weapons prime contractors associated with this work, MBDA UK Ltd and Thales UK, have received some £218 million and some £12 million respectively over the same period. The remaining £10 million has provided technical and project support to the Ministry of Defence, including through Defence Science and Technology Laboratory and QinetiQ, as well as securing supporting equipment, facilities and information that the Ministry of Defence provides in support of the initiative and its range of projects.

Trade Unions

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much his Department has paid to trade unions in each year since 1997; and what estimate he has made of the value of facilities provided by his Department and its predecessors for use by trade unions in each year since 1997.

Gerald Howarth: MOD does not make payments to any trade unions (TUs). The MOD-recognised TUs are funded through the subscription fees of their members.
	MOD views it to be in the joint interest of the Department and its recognised trade unions and staff associations for reasonable administrative facilities to be provided and the Department complies with the Advisory Conciliation and Arbitration Service (ACAS) Code of Practice 'Time off for trade union duties and activities.' Representatives for each recognised trade union and staff association are provided with equipped office space in an appropriate location, including facilities to work in accordance with that provided for other staff in the buildings on site, for example, desk, phone, IT, fax, etc.
	Regarding the estimate of the annual value of such provision-the information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Trade Unions

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many paid manpower hours civil servants in his Department spent on trade union-related duties and activities in each year since 1997.

Gerald Howarth: The MOD uses a standard figure of 220 days to calculate the time off for trade union duties and activities (facility time). This figure represents the working year after the deduction of annual leave, public, privilege and bank holidays, for full-time employees. The amount of time off, and the purposes for which it is allowed, is determined by what is considerable reasonable and the Advisory Conciliation and Arbitration Service (ACAS) Code of Practice "Time off for Trade Union duties and activities". The facility time allowances are agreed annually and are reflected as a percentage of the employee's working year.
	The following table sets out the number of full-time equivalent (FTE) civil servants allocated facility time each year since 1997. Based on an average working day of seven hours, a broad estimate has been calculated to address the amount of paid manpower hours spent on facility time. It has not been possible to extract those employees with facility time working part-time.
	
		
			  Year( 1)  FTEs  Hours 
			 2009-10(2) 135 207,900 
			 2008-09(3) 186 286,440 
			 2007-08(4) - - 
			 2006-07(5) 200 308,000 
			 2005-06(6) 192 295,680 
			 2004-05 197 303,380 
			 2003-04 196 301,840 
			 2002-03 209 321,860 
			 2001-02 209 321,860 
			 2000-01 198 304,920 
			 1999-2000 206 317,240 
			 1998-99 189 291,060 
			 1997-98 189 291,060 
			 (1 )The method of capturing the information changed from a formal manual system (pre 2006) to a system drawn from the Department's management information system (since 2006). The reliability of this data has varied and therefore the following footnotes should be taken into consideration: (2 )2009-10-IT records have been data cleansed to remove known discrepancies. Data excludes facility time for employees in Trading Funds, Service Personnel Vetting Agency and Defence Police Federation. (3 )2008-09-The IT records had improved but were known to include some discrepancies (i.e. duplicate records). Data excludes facility time for employees in Trading Funds, Service Personnel Vetting Agency and Defence Police Federation. (4 )2007-08-The IT data were insufficient data to produce reliable records. (5 )2006-07-There were IT system issues so 2005-06 data manually updated by local HR business partners. (6 )2005-06-The last year of manual records complied by local HR business partners.

Warships: Volcanoes

Karen Lumley: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  on what dates  (a) HMS Illustrious and  (b) HMS Ocean arrived at ports in northern France to assist in the evacuation of British citizens following the disruption to flights caused by volcanic ash in April 2010;
	(2)  how many British citizens were evacuated by  (a) HMS Illustrious and  (b) HMS Ocean from ports in northern France in (i) April and (ii) May 2010.

Nick Harvey: At various times during the flight disruption, RFA Fort Victoria, HMS Ark Royal and HMS Ocean were placed on standby to assist with the recovery of British citizens from Northern France. This was at the request of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. They were to be used if civilian ferry capacity at French ports proved insufficient. HMS Illustrious was not involved in the effort. Civilian capacity proved adequate and no Royal Navy ships were needed, they did not enter ports in northern France and no British citizens were evacuated.

Railways: Construction

Greg Mulholland: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what cost benefit analysis model is being used to determine which route a future high speed rail network will take.

Philip Hammond: HS2 Ltd has produced a high level assessment of the comparative business cases of the 'reverse S' and 'Y' shaped network options. In producing this assessment the company adopted the same methodology as in its work on national network configurations included in its December 2009 report. I will announce my decision on network configurations in due course.

Tyres: Safety

James Wharton: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what research his Department has  (a) commissioned and  (b) evaluated on the safety of remoulded tyres in the last three years; and if he will make a statement.

Michael Penning: The Department for Transport has not commissioned or evaluated any specific research on the safety of remoulded (retreaded) tyres in the last three years.
	However, commercial vehicle retreaded tyres were tested against international standards between 2007 and 2010 as part of a market surveillance programme. 52 tyres were tested, seven failed to meet the full performance requirements of the tests. Follow up action is underway with the European authorities who were responsible for approving the tyres in accordance with EU procedure.

Tyres: Safety

James Wharton: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what data his Department holds on the incidence of  (a) new and  (b) second-hand tyre failure as a factor in road traffic accidents.

Michael Penning: The Department for Transport does not hold any data on the level of new or second hand tyre failure as a factor in road traffic accidents. When a police officer attends the scene of a personal injury road accident they can report 'tyres illegal, defective or under inflated' as a contributory factor to the accident. This was reported as a contributory factor in 860 accidents in 2009 (1% of all reported road accidents).
	Contributory factors reflect the police officer's opinion at the time of reporting, and where a factor may have contributed to the cause of an accident it may be difficult for a police officer attending the scene after the accident to identify this, so factors may be underreported. Not all reported road accidents are included in contributory factor analysis, only those where a police officer attended the scene and at least one contributory factor was reported.

Departmental Internet

Andrew Smith: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what guidelines his Department applies to moderation of comments made on its websites.

Justine Greening: In general, HM Treasury websites do not have the functionality to allow site visitors to make comments.
	The Spending Challenge website was built and implemented as a joint exercise between No10, Cabinet Office, Directgov, HM Treasury and a private sector partner called Delib. HM Treasury facilitated access to the Spending Challenge website via its own departmental site.
	The Spending Challenge site has a strict moderation policy, which can be found in the comment and privacy policy page of the website:
	http://spendingchallenge.hm-treasury.gov.uk/privacy_policy
	A dedicated team keep a close eye on the content posted and continue to remove the minority of ideas and comments that are not appropriate as soon as possible.

Education: Finance

Justin Tomlinson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make it his policy that the Consumer Finance Education Body fund training in financial capability for school-aged children and young people; and if he will make a statement.

Mark Hoban: The Consumer Financial Education Body (CFEB) is an independent body and, while the CFEB must consult the Treasury when preparing its budget and annual plan, HM Treasury has no power to direct the CFEB to fund any activity, including training in financial capability for school-aged children and young people. The Government welcome the CFEB's decision to fund support for financial education in schools until March 2011 through the 'Learning Money Matters' programme.

Electric Vehicles

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make funding available for the second round of the Plugged In Places scheme to support the roll out of a charging infrastructure for electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles.

Philip Hammond: I have been asked to reply.
	I confirmed on 28 July that the Plugged-In Places initiative is ongoing and final funding will be decided in the spending review.

Office for Tax Simplification

Andrew Tyrie: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the oral answer of 20 July 2010,  Official Report, columns 175-6, on the Office of Tax Simplification, to the right hon. Member for Birmingham, Hodge Hill, 
	(1)  how many full-time equivalent civil servants of each grade work in the Office of Tax Simplification;
	(2)  what estimate he has made of the likely total salary bill for the Office of Tax Simplification in the next year;
	(3)  what estimate he has made of the likely number of secondees from the private sector to be employed by the Office of Tax Simplification in the next 12 months.

David Gauke: Michael Jack and John Whiting, who are leading the Office for the first year, will not be paid. They will be supported by a small secretariat to be appointed over the summer.
	The secretariat will include three full-time officials from the Treasury and HM Revenue and Customs. One of these officials will be Grade 6 official, the other two will be Higher Executive Officers. It is estimated that the annual salary bill for the secretariat will be around £220,000, consisting of gross salary, employer National Insurance contributions and superannuation costs. These costs will be met from within existing Treasury and HMRC budgets.
	It is expected that the secretariat will also include around three externally funded secondees.

Public Expenditure

Clive Betts: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the oral statement of 17 June 2010,  Official Report, columns 1040-1, on public spending, what criteria his Department used to determine which projects were affordable.

Danny Alexander: holding answer 27 July 2010
	On 17 June I announced the outcome of a review of all Government spending agreed by the previous Government between 1 January and the general election. Projects were assessed in light of spending plans for 2010-11 and the next spending period and were cancelled where they were not affordable, did not represent good value for money, or where they did not reflect the Government's priorities.

Public Expenditure: Houghton-le-Spring

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the monetary value is of each capital project in Houghton and Sunderland South constituency to which funding had been allocated which is under review.

Danny Alexander: On 17 June I announced the outcome of a review of 217 projects that had been submitted to the Treasury for re-approval. These projects included both capital and resource expenditure. 12 projects were cancelled as they did not demonstrate value for money and a further 12 projects were suspended as more detailed work is needed as part of the spending review process. None of these projects were in the constituency of Houghton and Sunderland. A list of the projects cancelled and suspended along with their constituency can be found in the response to the hon. Member for Wigan's (Lisa Nandy) parliamentary question-7 July 2010,  Official Report, column 294W. I also laid in the Libraries of both Houses of Parliament a full list of projects that were not cancelled or suspended as part of this exercise:
	http://www.parliament.uk/deposits/depositedpapers/2010/DEP2010-1327.doc

Public Expenditure: Wales

Jonathan Edwards: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the written ministerial statement of 22 July 2010,  Official Report, columns 27-28WS, on regional government, whether the closure of regional government offices will have a Barnett consequential for Wales.

Danny Alexander: Government have announced an intention in principle to abolish the Government Office network. Final decisions will be made at the end of the Spending Review in the autumn. Any resultant consequentials will form part of the Spending Review 2010 settlement for the Devolved Administrations.

Public Sector: Manpower

Owen Smith: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the changes in the number of public sector jobs in  (a) the UK and  (b) Wales arising from the measures proposed in the June 2010 Budget.

Danny Alexander: The Office of Budget Responsibility released further information on its employment forecast on 30 June 2010, which can be found on the following webpage:
	http://budgetresponsibility.independent.gov.uk/publications.html
	The OBR has not published forecasts on a sub-national level.

Revenue and Customs

James Gray: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer who the members were of the Inland Revenue Advisory Group established in May 1995 to examine the work, staffing and organisation of the tax districts responsible for that Department's largest and most complex cases; how many reports the Group produced; on what dates; and if he will place in the Library a copy of each such report.

David Gauke: The members of the Advisory Group which examined the work of the of the Inland Revenue tax districts responsible for the Department's largest and most complex cases were:
	
		
			  Member  
			 Steve Matheson Deputy Chairman 
			 Keith Deacon Director, Quality Development Division 
			 Michael Johns Director, Business Operations Division 
			 Jonathan Leigh-Pemberton Business Operations Division 
			 John Gribbon Director, Business Profits Division 
			 Dick Jones Controller, Large Groups Office 
			 Tom Cawdron Deputy Controller, Large Groups Office 
			 Tony Sleeman Controller, South Yorkshire REO 
			 Graeme Fisher District Inspector, Liverpool Blackfriars 
			 Dariel Francis District Inspector, City 25 
			 Iain Mcniven District Inspector, Leeds 2 TDO 
			 Ron Haigh Assistant Director, International Division 
			 Kevin Hamer International Division 
			 David Carr Pollard Review 
			 Jeremy Grinyer Board Support 
		
	
	The group produced a draft report in September 1995, which was made final in November 1995. A copy of the report has been placed in the House of Commons Library. A few passages have been redacted to remove of references to particular taxpayers, in accordance with HM Revenue & Customs' statutory duty of confidentiality.
	A smaller Advisory Group was appointed to be the project board for implementing the changes that flowed from the report. Its members were:
	Steve Matheson (Chair)
	Tom Cawdron (until December 1995)
	Bernard Staples
	Hazel Colclough (from December 1995)
	Tony Johnson
	Robert Peel
	No copies of this group's further recommendations have been retained.

Tax Evasion

Caroline Flint: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent discussions he has had with the Serious Organised Crime Agency on the prosecution of individuals involved in serious and organised crime for tax evasion.

David Gauke: HMRC work closely with all other UK law enforcement agencies both to tackle organised crime attacks against the Exchequer and also to help with the wider efforts to disrupt serious organised crime. The focus of this activity is the Organised Crime Partnership Board (OCPB), which meets monthly, and is made up of HMRC, the Association of Chief Police Officers, the UK Border Agency and the Serious Organised Crime Agency.
	HMRC also have a memorandum of understanding with SOCA setting out how they will work together and they also engage bilaterally regularly at the strategic, policy and operational levels to co-ordinate and maximise joint capabilities.
	The Crown Prosecution Service is responsible deciding whether to prosecute and for carrying out all prosecutions originating from HMRC criminal investigations.

Tax Yields: Entertainments

Philip Davies: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the contribution of the British amusements industry to  (a) Exchequer receipts from tax and duty and  (b) the economy in each of the last three years.

Justine Greening: Amusement Industry in the UK is subject to various tax regimes including amusement machine licence duty (AMLD) and VAT.
	The following table shows HMRC revenue figures from AMLD for the last three years, which are available at:
	https://www.uktradeinfo.com/index.cfm?task=bullbett
	
		
			  Financial year  £ million 
			 2007-08 220 
			 2008-09 213 
			 2009-10 216 
		
	
	VAT revenue figures are not split down sufficiently to provide information for the amusement industry explicitly.
	The Office for National Statistics measures the industry's contribution to the economy as gross value added (GVA). Although GVA figures are not available for the amusement industry, a breakdown is available for gambling and betting activities, as well as for fair and amusement park activities, as follows:
	
		
			  Approximate GVA at basic prices 
			  £ million 
			   2006  2007  2008 
			 Gambling and betting activities 3,850 4,503 4,552 
			 Fair and amusement park activities 365 348 334

VAT

Virendra Sharma: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what estimate he has made of the average proportion of gross income which the poorest 20 per cent. of households composed of retired people will pay in value added tax in each year from 2010-11 to 2014-15;
	(2)  what estimate he has made of the effects of the planned increase in the standard rate of value added tax on the average  (a) household composed of retired people and  (b) retired individual in each year from 2010-11 to 2014-15.

David Gauke: The Government are committed to reducing the Budget deficit while supporting the most vulnerable. The Emergency Budget demonstrated this commitment by confirming that the Government will uprate the basic state pension by a triple guarantee of earnings, prices and 2%-whichever is highest-from April 2011, benefiting over 11 million pensioners. The Government will increase the basic state pension in April 2011 by at least the equivalent of RPI.
	Using gross rather than net income to assess the proportionate impact of tax and benefit changes takes no account of the impact of support to pensioners, such as the above-indexation increase in April 2011 to the standard minimum income guarantee in pension credit, which helps households achieve higher levels of consumption. Looking at this higher consumption without the support that helped enable it may provide a misleading picture of the overall impacts.
	As such the analysis in Annex A of the Budget has been based on net incomes. No estimate has been made of the average proportion of gross income which the poorest 20% of households comprised of retired people will pay in value added tax in each year from 2010-11 to 2014-15.

VAT

Wayne David: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will take steps to ensure that all goods and services specifically for children attract the same rate of value added tax as children's books.

David Gauke: Most books, including children's picture books and painting books, are currently zero-rated for VAT. However, agreements with our EU partners prevent us from extending the scope of existing zero rates, or introducing new ones. We could not therefore extend the zero-rate to all goods and services specifically for children.

VAT: Scotland

Anas Sarwar: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will undertake an impact assessment in respect of the effect on Scotland of the increase in value added tax.

David Gauke: The VAT increase should be considered in the context of the Budget, which sets out a plan for dealing decisively with the deficit, which will be to the benefit of everyone across the United Kingdom. The Budget documentation, notably annexes A and C of the June 2010 Budget Book describe the impact of the Budget and of the increase in the rate of VAT.

Written Questions: Government Responses

Ian Lucas: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he plans to reply to question 7850, tabled on 7 July 2010, on the Office of Budget Responsibility.

Justine Greening: A reply was given to the hon. Member today.

Arms Control: UN Resolutions

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking to implement United Nations Security Council Resolution 1540 of 2004 on the non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.

Alistair Burt: There is no one single piece of legislation covering the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1540, but a wide range of national UK legislation is compatible with our obligations under the Resolution. The Biological Weapons Act, Chemicals Weapons Act, the Anti-Terrorism, Crime and Security Act, the Export Control Act, are examples of some of the UK legislation in place that meet UNSCR 1540 requirements. Regulations are also in place covering the storage and transport of materials to ensure the UK is in compliance with international guidelines. In addition to this the UK has recently ratified both the International Convention on the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism and the Amended Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material. The UK is working with other international organisations such as the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe, International Atomic Energy Agency, and through the G8 to promote UNSCR 1540 implementation and bi-laterally to assist countries with adherence.
	A full list of UK legislation is available at:
	http://www.un.Org/sc/1540/nationalreports.shtml#U

Burma: Nuclear Weapons

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of recent reports that Burma is attempting to acquire nuclear weapons.

Jeremy Browne: We are aware of recent media reporting suggesting that Burma may be seeking to develop military nuclear capability. We take such issues very seriously, and remind all states to adhere to their obligations under the nuclear non-proliferation treaty and all relevant UN Security Council resolutions.
	We continue to urge Burma to act strictly in accordance with its obligations under the nuclear non-proliferation treaty, to abide by the terms and conditions of its International Atomic Energy Agency Safeguards Agreement and declare all nuclear material in its possession.
	Our ambassador to Rangoon has lobbied the Burmese regime on their obligations under UN sanctions and raised proliferation concerns with senior members of the military regime. Burma cannot afford to risk the grave consequences of breaching the measures that have been adopted to stop the proliferation of nuclear weapons.

EU External Relations

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs in respect of which international organisations representatives of the EU have an increased right of participation to represent Community interests since the ratification of the Treaty of Lisbon.

David Lidington: The Lisbon Treaty does not give the EU increased rights of representation in any international organisation. We will carefully examine any request for additional rights of representation for the EU delegation in an international organisation after a thorough cost benefit analysis of all the legal and political issues. Since the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty the EU has only sought enhanced observership rights in respect of the UN General Assembly (UNGA). Further to my written ministerial statement issued on 14 July 2010,  Official Report, column 31-32WS we agree that the EU delegation should have these rights so that it can represent EU member states in the same way as the EU rotating presidency has previously done. Our support for the proposed UNGA resolution does not imply agreement to additional rights for the EU in any other fora.

European External Action Service

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the contribution of the Minister of Europe, in the debate on the European External Action Service of 14 July 2010,  Official Report, column 1056, if he will give a detailed breakdown of the £400 million estimated cost of the European External Action Service.

David Lidington: holding answer 22 July 2010
	 Any calculation of the cost of the European External Action Service (EEAS) will necessarily be provisional until presentation of the EEAS draft budget, expected in mid-September 2010. We expect that the European Commission will issue an amending letter detailing the redistribution of expenditure. I will deposit this letter in Parliament. However, taking the most recent year for which actual figures are available, 2009, the total cost of the Commission and Council services which, according to provisional plans, will be transferred into the EEAS is in the order of €398.5 million. This figure does not represent the entire cost of the EEAS, which will also include seconded member state nationals, a part of the staff of the EU Special Representatives, and administrative costs which have not yet been fully laid out. This figure is based on the assumption (subject to some change as details are worked through) that the units that will move are:
	the Directorate-General for External Relations (DG Relex) (although not all staff in delegations);
	half of Directorate-General Development (including staff in delegations);
	half of the cost to DG Relex of delegations;
	12.5% of the non-building (ie staff and ancillary costs) of the Council Secretariat.
	The costs of these four items for the last year for which we have actual figures of money spent, 2009, are: €11 million; €97.4 million; €128 million; and €59 million. This gives a combined total of €398.5 million.

Gambia: Elections

Anas Sarwar: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions his Department has had with the government of Gambia on the conduct of elections in that country in 2011.

Henry Bellingham: The UK, as Permanent Representative of the Presidency of the European Union (EU) in The Gambia, has raised issues surrounding the upcoming elections during the consultation process under Article 8 of the Cotonou Agreement between EU countries and the Gambia. The UK are also active in International Donor Group meetings with the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) which are designed to assist in the capacity building and strengthening of the IEC and other local civil society organisations to organise credible elections.

Indonesia: EU External Relations

Nicky Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether religious freedom was discussed as a priority in the recent EU-Indonesia human rights dialogue; and what assessment he made of the outcomes of that dialogue.

Jeremy Browne: At the UK's request, freedom of religion was included as a substantive item on the agenda of the first EU-Indonesia Human Rights Dialogue held in June 2010. The EU noted Indonesia's efforts in promoting interfaith dialogue and raised concerns over the persecution of the Ahmadiyya community and recent attacks on Christians.
	The dialogue was constructive. Agreement was reached to take forward co-operation in support of the Association of South East Asian Nations Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights in multilateral fora (such as the Human Rights Council) and to explore possible assistance for juvenile justice and efforts to combat child labour, trafficking and child sexual exploitation in Indonesia.

Israel: Expenditure

Robert Halfon: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much his Department paid to  (a) B'Tselem,  (b) HaMoked,  (c) Yesh Din,  (d) Ir Amim,  (e) Bimkom,  (f) the Public Committee Against Torture in Israel,  (g) the Israeli Committee Against House Demolition,  (h) Gisha,  (i) Association for Civil Rights in Israel,  (j) Peace Now,  (k) Mossawa and  (l) Breaking the Silence in each financial year since 2005-06; for what purposes those payments were made; and what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of his Department's spending on each such programme or project undertaken by each such organisation.

Alistair Burt: The tri-departmental Conflict Pool and Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) Bilateral programme funds support the Government's aim of reducing conflict in the middle east and North Africa region in order to help safeguard British national security. Our Conflict Prevention programmes in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories are jointly managed by the FCO, the Department for International Development and the Ministry of Defence. They work to improve the political environment in support of the peace process, including tackling difficult issues such as settlements and alleged human rights violations on both sides. Our Bilateral programme strengthens our relations with countries in the middle east and North Africa region. We work with both the Palestinian Authority to enhance their capacity for tackling violence and with Israeli institutions and non-governmental organisations (NGOs).
	Many of the initiatives we support work to promote equality and human rights, build trust between communities, reduce violence inside the Occupied Palestinian Territories and advance peace. The NGOs we work with have helped to raise awareness of Israel's obligations under international law with regard to settlement activity and human rights violations. They also work to ensure due legal process is adhered to by Israeli authorities. Regular monitoring and evaluation of the effectiveness of all programmes is a requirement for all our funding commitments. Since we began supporting these programmes there have been a number of changes to Israeli civil and military judicial practice and decisions, and increased public debate on these issues.
	A vibrant, independent and diverse civil society is one of Israel's great strengths and we believe that continuing British support will assist in strengthening democratic processes. By raising awareness and creating an environment where people are able to learn more about the situation and realities on the ground, the projects we support play a crucial role in creating sustainable conditions for peace.
	Of those NGOs referred to in my hon. Friend's question, the following have been funded through our Conflict Prevention programmes (the Middle East and North Africa Conflict Pool-MENA CP):
	 B'Tselem
	Project purpose: Using film and video documentation as a tool for accountability to improve the human rights situation in the west bank, Gaza Strip and East Jerusalem. Funding: 2010-11-£135,000 (provisional allocation).
	 B'Tselem & HaMoked (jointly)
	Project purpose: To support freedom of movement for Palestinians in the Occupied Territories through legal and administrative action, advocacy and public education. Funding: 2005-06-£140,000, 2006-07-£150,000.
	 Yesh Din
	Project purpose: (2006 to 2008) Using legal action and public advocacy to challenge and ensure compliance with due process within Israeli military courts.
	Project purpose: (2008 to 2010) To challenge Israeli settlement construction and increase Palestinian access to lands in the west bank through legal actions and public advocacy. Funding: 2006-07-£55,529, 2007-08-£74,256, 2008-09-£125,000, 2009-10-£142,000, 2010-11-£83,755 (provisional allocation).
	 Ir Amin
	Project purpose: To influence the nature and quality of public policy debate and ultimately Israeli policy in line with political options for a sustainable two-state solution. Funding: 2005-06-£70,000, 2006-07-£100,133, 2007-08-£60,000, 2008-09-£127,850.
	 Bimkom
	Project purpose: (2006 to 2010): To provide comprehensive information on the planning situation of Palestinian villages in Area C, to support the prevention of house demolitions and improve living conditions of residents. Funding: 2006-07-£11,366, 2007-08-£45,956, 2009-10-£22,978.
	 Gisha
	Project purpose: To use legal actions and public advocacy to support free movement and access to goods, and to document human rights violations in Gaza. Funding: 2008-09-£70,010.
	 Association for Civil Rights in Israel (ACRI)
	Project purpose: (2006 to 2008) To raise awareness of Israeli obligations under international law to safeguard the rights of Palestinians in Hebron, through public advocacy and legal actions.
	Project purpose: (2008-2009) To raise awareness of Israeli obligations under international law to safeguard the rights of Palestinians and to reduce incidents of violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms of Palestinians in the west bank through public advocacy and legal actions Funding: 2006-07-£42,000, 2007-08-£36,742, 2008-09-£73,000.
	 Peace Now
	Project purpose: To record, highlight and challenge settlement expansion activities, through legal action, public advocacy and dialogue with Israeli officials. Funding: 2006-07-£109,990, 2007-08-£52,696, 2008-09-£117,000, 2009-10-£100,000, 2010-11-£93,000 (provisional allocation).
	 Breaking the Silence
	Project purpose: To raise international and Israeli public awareness of human rights violations in the Hebron area. Funding: 2006-07-£19,144, 2007-08-£32,856, 2008-09-£26,701, 2009-10-£56,455, 2010-11-£74,434 (provisional allocation).
	Two of the NGOs referred to were supported by our bilateral programme funds. They were:
	 Bimkom
	Project purpose: (2005-06): To investigate planning considerations of the route of the Separation Barrier and assist Palestinian communities to raise concerns. Funding: 2005-06-£30,000.
	 Public Committee Against Torture in Israel (PCATI)
	Project purpose: To increase legal aid and advocacy work in cases of alleged torture and to support adoption of a human rights-based agenda. Funding: 2006-07-£15,000, 2007-08-£29,955.
	Israeli Committee against House Demolition (ICAHD) and Mossawa have not been funded by either the MENA CP or the FCO Bilateral programme fund.

Mexico: Foreign Relations

Anas Sarwar: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he plans to take to strengthen the UK's relations with Mexico.

Jeremy Browne: The Government are increasing high-level engagement with Mexico. My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister met President Calderon at the G20 Summit in Toronto; my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has met his equivalent, Patricia Espinosa; and my hon. Friend Henry Bellingham and I regularly meet the Mexican ambassador to the UK.
	In these exchanges there has been a focus on how we can work closer in the Security Council-and Foreign and Commonwealth Office Ministers will be taking this work forward at the UN General Assembly in September.
	We are fully supportive of Mexico's leadership of the UN Framework Convention Climate Change and we are working in close co-operation to ensure an international agreement on a balanced package of measures at the Cancun Summit.
	The UK and Mexico are also stepping up efforts to boost bilateral trade and investment. This will be an important focus of our annual High Level Political Talks in the autumn. I will host the talks and the Mexican delegation will be led by the Mexican Deputy Foreign Minister, Lourdes Aranda.

Nagorno Karabakh

Christopher Pincher: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his policy is on the UK contribution to a resolution of the political situation between Azerbaijan and Armenia to enable internally-displaced persons to return to Nagorno Karabakh and surrounding regions.

David Lidington: The Government continue to support the conflict settlement efforts of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe's Minsk Group to find a solution for Nagorno Karabakh on the basis of international norms and principles, including non-use of force, territorial integrity and self-determination. In our bilateral contacts, we continue to encourage Armenia and Azerbaijan to work towards a lasting solution to the conflict. Most recently I raised the issue with the Armenian and Azeri Foreign Ministers in the margins of the OSCE Ministerial held in Almaty, Kazakhstan on 16-17 July. UK bilateral funding continues, through the Conflict Pool, to support peace-building projects in Nagorno Karabakh and elsewhere in the South Caucasus.

Pakistan: Ahmadiyya

Stephen Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has made to the government of Pakistan on the safety of the Ahmadiyya Muslim community in that country; and if he will make a statement.

Alistair Burt: Our high commissioner in Islamabad has raised the issue of discrimination suffered by the Ahmadiyya Community with the Chief Minister of Punjab alongside his European Union colleagues. Our high commission has also raised the issue bilaterally with the Pakistani authorities, including with the Ministry for Minorities and the Ministry of the Interior.
	During her visit to Pakistan in July 2010, Baroness Warsi discussed the Punjab Government's response to the attacks in May with the Punjab's Chief Minister and Chief Secretary.

Palestinians: International Assistance

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has had discussions with his Israeli counterpart on changes to access that have occurred since the new Israeli access regime for Gaza was introduced following the statements of Prime Minister Netanyahu on 20 June and 5 July 2010; and if he will make a statement.

Alistair Burt: The UK has an ongoing dialogue with the Government of Israel at both ministerial and official level covering a wide range of issues including Gaza. We, together with the EU and Quartet have called on Israel to ease restrictions on access and enable a return to economic normality. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has also underlined the important role the Palestinian economy, whether in Gaza or on the West Bank, will play in contributing towards a viable Palestinian state living alongside Israel in peace and security.

Somalia: Foreign Policy

Anas Sarwar: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his long-term foreign policy objectives are for Somalia.

Henry Bellingham: For Somalia, our long-term foreign policy objective is to create sufficient stability to gradually deny space for those who threaten both UK interests and regional security; providing security and development for the Somali population.
	To this end, it is essential that the international community is closely co-ordinated behind the Djibouti Peace Process to ensure coherent and effective support to overcome obstacles to progress.
	There is not simply a military solution in Somalia; political reconciliation is vital to Somalia's future security.

South America: Foreign Policy

Anas Sarwar: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his foreign policy priorities are for South America.

Jeremy Browne: As my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has publicly stated the Government are determined to increase the UK's engagement with the countries of South America, and Latin America more broadly. The region is an important ally in helping deliver our objective of safeguarding Britain's national security by countering weapons proliferation and working to reduce conflict. Latin America also includes a number of economic partners that are an important focus of the Government's prosperity agenda. In this we are not only aiming to increase bilateral trade and investment with countries in the region, but also promoting sustainable global growth, including by working with Brazil, Mexico and Argentina in the G20.
	In advance of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, Conference of Parties summit in Cancun, the Government will also be prioritising engagement with the region on the climate change agenda. As my right hon. Friends the Prime Minster and the Foreign Secretary have repeatedly stated, it is important to raise ambitions in advance of the summit and to secure a balanced package of measures in Cancun.
	I was pleased to visit Colombia and Chile in August to discuss these issues personally with Presidents Santos and Piñera and their teams.

Strategic Defence and Security Review

Penny Mordaunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what involvement his Department has had in the Stategic Defence and Security Review; and if he will make a statement.

David Lidington: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has been playing a central role in setting the foreign policy context for the Cabinet Office-led Strategic Defence and Security Review process. This is a comprehensive review of the defence and security threats facing the UK and the capabilities that we have and shall need to address those threats and exploit opportunities for the UK. The FCO itself, and our network of overseas posts, are important capabilities which will be covered by the review. The FCO will continue to be involved at official level and my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State (Alistair Burt), shall remain engaged through discussions in the National Security Council until the conclusion of the review.

Taxis

Matthew Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much his Department spent on taxi fares in each year since 1997.

Alistair Burt: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) currently uses two contracts with private hire taxi companies: Addison Lee, covering the London area; and Raffles Taxis, covering the Milton Keynes area. Both contracts are used for both FCO departmental usage, and FCO Services. As FCO Services has been an independent trading fund since 1 April 2008, their expenditure is recorded and shown separately since that date. The following table shows the breakdown of costs by year.
	FCO staff travel by the most efficient means of transport, bearing in mind the operational requirement and the need to secure value for money for the public purse. Public transport is used whenever possible and staff avoid using taxis on official business unless it is absolutely necessary. Expenditure is now closely monitored and as a result expenditure in financial year 2009-10 has shown a decrease.
	Staff should not normally use a taxi at public expense between home and office-nor between airports and central London-except for journeys during the hours when public transport is not running. If it is absolutely necessary for staff to work after 9 pm or before 7 am, they may consider taking a taxi from their destination station to their home address or vice versa.
	
		
			  Taxi expenditure-Addison Lee and Raffles Taxis 
			  £ 
			   2000-01  2001-02  2002-03  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07  2007-08  2008-09  2009-10 
			 Raffles Taxis 90,302 180,241 172,661 156,201 150,373 143,191 161,708 188,897 See below See below 
			 Addison Lee (1)- (1)- (1)- (1)- (1)- (1)- (1)- 340,531 - - 
			 Raffles Taxis (FCO UK only) n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 93,449 61,559 
			 Addison Lee (FCO UK only) n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 380,507 270,457 
			 Raffles Taxis (FCO Services only) n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 134,067 161,328 
			 Addison Lee (FCO Services only) n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 35,089 44,739 
			 (1) Unavailable  Note: All figures quoted are exclusive of VAT

Trade Unions

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many civil servants in his Department spent the equivalent of  (a) five days or fewer,  (b) five to 10 days,  (c) 10 to 15 days,  (d) 15 to 20 days,  (e) 20 to 25 days and  (f) 25 days or more on trade union-related activities or duties while being paid salaries from the public purse in each year since 1997.

Alistair Burt: We do not hold data going back to 1997 on the number of days Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) staff spent on trade union activities. Since 2005 however, there have been 9.5 full-time equivalent staff in the FCO and FCO Services elected by FCO union members, each financial year to represent members. This equates to 0.2% of the Department's overall whole time equivalent staffing headcount. The FCO also allows up to 25 days time off for staff elected to the branch executive committees of their unions to engage in union activities. Actual time taken is not recorded centrally and is at the discretion of line management. We currently have 33 volunteer members of staff who are branch committee members.
	The amount of trade union facility time allowed in the FCO is in compliance with the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992 and the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (ACAS) code of practice 'Time off for trade union duties and activities'.

Wines

Matthew Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much his Department spent on wine in each year since 1997.

Henry Bellingham: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office does not keep central records of expenditure on wine across the Department.
	Government Hospitality, which manages the Government Wine Cellar on behalf of all Government Departments, recorded the following expenditure on purchases (wines, spirits, beers, etc) in each year since 1997:
	
		
			   £ 
			 1997-98 114,407 
			 1998-99 103,277 
			 1999-2000 84,793 
			 2000-01 80,337 
			 2001-02 92,772 
			 2002-03 91,860 
			 2003-04 93,503 
			 2004-05 60,059 
			 2005-06 95,264 
			 2006-07 108,715 
			 2007-08 137,460 
			 2008-09 121,939 
			 2009-10 80,662 
		
	
	The running down of stocks and low expenditure in 2004-05 was due to preparations for the UK presidencies of the G8 and European Union. It is not possible separate the costs of wines from other stock for the cellar.

AIDS: Health Services

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  if he will make it his policy to ring-fence the revenue grant for AIDS support; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of the effect of removal of protection of the revenue grant for AIDS support on the provision of  (a) (i) counselling, (ii) peer support and (iii) care services for people living with HIV and  (b) funding for local HIV organisations providing specialist social care support to HIV-positive people not catered for by mainstream services.

Anne Milton: On 24 May, it was announced that the ring fence would now be lifted from a number of specific social care grants, including the AIDS support grant (ASG) with immediate effect.
	The Government's view is that, in the current economic climate, local authorities are best placed to prioritise their own spending commitments based on the local pressures they face. By removing the ring-fencing of grants, we are giving authorities more freedom to direct funding in the most effective way and give local people the best service possible.
	The AIDS support grant is now a long-running and embedded social care grant, and existing commissioning networks and local scrutiny arrangements will monitor grant spend at a local level. The Department has confirmed that the AIDS support grant will be still administered as a separate, specific social care grant in 2010-11, and that it will be maintained at the previously announced level of £25.5 million.

Alcoholic Drinks: Misuse

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many individuals were admitted to Peterborough District Hospital as a result of alcohol- related harm in each year since 2001; what the cost of treating such individuals was in each of those years; and if he will make a statement.

Anne Milton: Information is not held in the format requested.
	The following table shows the number of finished admission episodes which are estimated to be alcohol-related for Peterborough and Stamford Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust from 2004-05 to 2008-09 and Peterborough Hospitals NHS Trust from 2002-03 to 2003-04. We are unable to provide costs specifically related to alcohol harm.
	However, the National Audit Office has carried out an audit of national health service spend on alcohol treatment. Their report, "Reducing Alcohol Harm: health services in England for alcohol misuse", was published in November 2008 and found, that where primary care trust expenditure on alcohol services was known, an average of £600,000 was spent on commissioning alcohol services in 2006-07.
	
		
			  Number of finished admission episodes which are estimated to be alcohol-related( 1)  for Peterborough and Stamford Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust from 2004-05 to 2008-09 and Peterborough Hospitals NHS Trust from 2002-03 to 2003-04 
			  Activity in English NHS Hospitals and English NHS commissioned activity in the independent sector 
			  Trust name   Alcohol-related admission episodes 
			 Peterborough and Stamford Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust 2008-09 5,726 
			  2007-08 5,236 
			  2006-07 4,432 
			  2005-06 4,432 
			  2004-05 4,174 
			
			 Peterborough Hospitals NHS Trust 2003-04 3,624 
			  2002-03 3,096 
			  Notes: 1. Due to organisational changes Peterborough Hospital NHS Trust may not directly map to Peterborough and Stamford Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and therefore caution should be taken when comparing the figures before and after 2004 as data may not be directly comparable.  2. Alcohol-related admissions.  The number of alcohol-related admissions is based on the methodology developed by the North West Public Health Observatory (NWPHO), which uses 48 indicators for alcohol-related illnesses, determining the proportion of a wide range of diseases and injuries that can be partly attributed to alcohol as well as those that are, by definition, wholly attributable to alcohol. Further information on these proportions can be found at  http://www.nwph.net/nwpho/publications/AlcoholAttributableFractions.pdf 3. The application of the NWPHO methodology has recently been updated and is now available directly from HES. As such, information about episodes estimated to be alcohol related may be slightly different from previously published data.  4. Number of episodes in which the patient had an alcohol-related primary or secondary diagnosis. These figures represent the number of episodes where an alcohol-related diagnosis was recorded in any of the 20 (14 from 2002-03 to 2006-07 and seven prior to 2002-03) primary and secondary diagnosis fields in a HES record. Each episode is only counted once in each count, even if an alcohol-related diagnosis is recorded in more than one diagnosis field of the record.  5. Data quality.  HES are compiled from data sent by more than 300 NHS trusts and primary care trusts in England and from some independent sector organisations for activity commissioned by the English NHS. The NHS Information Centre for health and social care liaises closely with these organisations to encourage submission of complete and valid data and seeks to minimise inaccuracies. While this brings about improvement over time, some shortcomings remain. 
			 6. Assessing growth through time.  HES figures are available from 1989-90 onwards. Changes to the figures over time need to be interpreted in the context of improvements in data quality and coverage (particularly in earlier years), improvements in coverage of independent sector activity (particularly from 2006-07) and changes in NHS practice. For example, apparent reductions in activity may be due to a number of procedures which may now be undertaken in outpatient settings and so no longer include in admitted patient HES data.  Source:  Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), The NHS Information Centre for health and social care.

Autism

David Mowat: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent discussions he has had with stakeholders on the effectiveness of child and adolescent mental health services for children with autism and co-occurring mental health problems.

Paul Burstow: This was discussed in a meeting Mark Lever, chief executive of the National Autistic Society and I had on 27 July 2010.

Autism

David Mowat: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he plans to take to ensure that his Department's White Paper will lead to improvements in the provision of healthcare for those with the most complex needs, with particular reference to children with autism and mental health problems.

Paul Burstow: The intention of the White Paper "Equity and Excellence: Liberating the NHS" is to create a national health service which is much more responsive to patients and is focused on what really matters to patients and carers-continuously improving the outcomes of health care. The proposals will set the NHS free from day to day political interference. Services and commissioning, including for those with the most complex needs, will be clinically-led, evidence-based and bottom-up, not dictated top-down by politicians.
	By publishing the White Paper the Government are now able to engage fully on the detail of how best to implement these changes, and this engagement process is now under way.

Blood: Cancer

Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 14 July 2010,  Official Report, column 780W, on blood: cancer, which cancer networks are not in a position to set up haemato-pathology services by the end of December 2010; and what issues relating to the implementation of the guidance on setting up haemato-pathology services by this date remain to be resolved.

Paul Burstow: Of the 28 cancer networks, eight have fully implemented haemato-pathology services in line with the Improving Outcomes in Haematological Cancers guidance. Information regarding the remaining 20 is currently being collated by the National Cancer Action Team. When this is complete, it will provide a clearer of picture of which networks will be compliant by December 2010 and those that may not be, and the reasons for this.
	Listed as follows are the 28 cancer networks and their status of compliance.
	
		
			  Strategic health authority  Network  Status 
			 East of England Anglia To be confirmed 
			  Essex To be confirmed 
			  Mount Vernon To be confirmed 
			
			 London North London To be confirmed 
			  South East London Compliant 
			  South West London To be confirmed 
			  West London To be confirmed 
			  North East London Compliant 
			
			 North East North of England To be confirmed 
			
			 Yorkshire and the Humber Humber and Yorkshire Coast Compliant 
			  Yorkshire Compliant 
			  North Trent Compliant 
			
			 North West Greater Manchester and Cheshire Compliant 
			  Lancashire and South Cumbria To be confirmed 
			  Merseyside and Cheshire To be confirmed 
			
			 South Central Central South Coast To be confirmed 
			  Thames Valley To be confirmed 
			
			 South East Coast Kent Compliant 
			  Surrey, West Sussex and Hampshire To be confirmed 
			  Sussex To be confirmed 
			
			 South West Dorset To be confirmed 
			  Peninsula To be confirmed 
			  Avon, Somerset and Wiltshire To be confirmed 
			  3 Counties To be confirmed 
			
			 East Midlands East Midland Compliant 
			
			 West Midlands Arden To be confirmed 
			  Greater Midlands To be confirmed 
			  Pan Birmingham To be confirmed

Care Homes: Diabetes

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the number of patients admitted to hospital from residential care as a result of their diabetes in each of the last five years.

Paul Burstow: Although the NHS Information Centre for health and social care collects and publishes details of ail admissions to national health service hospitals in England as Hospital Episode Statistics, the data returned for this question was not specific enough to identify those admitted from residential care. Therefore, a meaningful estimate of the number of patients admitted to hospital, from residential care, as a result of their diabetes in each of the last five years cannot be made.

Dementia

Jim Dobbin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department has taken to reduce the level of use of anti-psychotic drugs for people with dementia.

Paul Burstow: The National Clinical Director for dementia is leading the work to implement the recommendations made by Professor Sube Banerjee in his report in to the use of anti-psychotic medicines, which was published in November 2009. The Department is working with the NHS Information Centre to develop an audit of the prescribing of anti-psychotics for people with dementia. The audit will be a key mechanism for measuring the reduction in the use of anti-psychotic drugs.

Departmental Assets

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which former  (a) buildings and  (b) land owned by (i) his Department and (ii) (A) non-departmental public bodies and (B) agencies for which his Department is responsible have been sold since May 2005; what the sale price of each was at the time of sale; and to which body the funds from the sale accrued in each case.

Simon Burns: The following table provides details of the major land and buildings sold by the Department between April 2005 and March 2010. There have been no sales by non-departmental public bodies or agencies, for which the Department has been responsible during this period.
	The receipts from these sales are credited to the Department's capital budget and can be used to support further capital spending by the Department, the national health service, agencies and non-departmental public bodies.
	
		
			  Property sold  Sale price (£000) 
			  2005-06  
			 Land at Princess Royal, Telford 45 
			 St Margaret's, Walsall 13,250 
			 St Crispin's Social Club, Northampton 20 
			 Land at Towers Hospital, Leicester 1,816 
			 1/3 Nightingale Close, Mulbarton 230 
			 High Royd's, Menston 27,230 
			 Killingbeck, Leeds 18,770 
			 Land at Neville Drive, Sedgefield 3,000 
			 30 Windermere Gardens, Gateshead 75 
			 St Oswald's Hospice, Newcastle 900 
			 New Lodge, Whittingham 94 
			 Middleton Hospital, Ilkley 275 
			 10 Mayroyd Avenue, Tolworth 189 
			 47 Gainsborough Road, Epsom 122 
			 Conolly House, Napsbury 1,245 
			 Colvend, Napsbury 495 
			 121 Cranleigh Mead, Cranleigh 117 
			 19 Netherne Lane, Coulsdon 144 
			 24 Park Road, Maidstone 118 
			 40 Park Road, Maidstone 115 
			 46 Park Road, Maidstone 128 
			 2 Brambletye Park Road, Redhill 164 
			 Land at Joyce Green, Dartford 1,225 
			 Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Banstead 5,900 
			 Silverlands, Chertsey 3,700 
			 Bungalow, Woodplace Lane, Coulsdon 189 
			 Glenside, Bristol 5,250 
			 Part Severalls Hospital Site, Colchester (1)280,000 
			 Turner Village, Colchester (1)- 
			 Land at St Mary's Axminster (1)- 
			 Cashes Green Hospital, Stroud (1)- 
			 St Leonards, Ringwood (1)- 
			 Tiverton District Hospital, Tiverton (1)- 
			 Belmont Hospital, Tiverton (1)- 
			 Cottages 1 to 5, Herrison (1)- 
			 Lower Farm Buildings, Herrison (1)- 
			 Sewer Field, Herrison Hanham Hail, Bristol (1)- 
			 Part Countess of Chester, Chester (1)- 
			 Whittingham, Preston (1)- 
			 Winwick Farm, Warrington (1)- 
			 Winwick Social Club, Warrington (1)- 
			 Land at Lancaster Moor, Lancaster (1)- 
			 Homelands Hospital, Crook (1)- 
			 Killingworth Stores, Killingworth (1)- 
			 Maiden Law Hospital, Durham (1)- 
			 Part St Georges Hospital, Morpeth (1)- 
			 Land at Aycliffe Hospital, Newton Aycliffe (1)- 
			 Birney Hill Farm, Ponteland (1)- 
			 Stannington Children's Hospital, Stannington (1)- 
			 Ashington General Hospital, Ashington (1)- 
			 Part Shotley Bridge Hospital, Consett (1)- 
			 Tindale Crescent, Bishop Auckland (1)- 
			 Hull Maternity Hospital, Hull (1)- 
			 Land at Seacroft Hospital, Leeds (1)- 
			 Part Wharfdale Hospital, Otley (1)- 
			 Land at Springfield, Grimsby (1)- 
			 Scartho Hall, Grimsby (1)- 
			 Scartho Hall-site opposite, Grimsby (1)- 
			 Land at Norton Aerodrome, Sheffield (1)- 
			 Lord Mayor Treloar, Alton (1)- 
			 Park Prewett, Basingstoke (1)- 
			 St Augustines, Chartham (1)- 
			 Mabledon, Dartford (1)- 
			 Alpha House, Droxford (1)- 
			 Part St Ebbas, Epsom (1)- 
			 Horton Farm, Epsom (1)- 
			 Retail Centre site, Horton, Epsom (1)- 
			 Part West Park Hospital, Epsom (1)- 
			 Part Coldeast Hospital, Fareham (1)- 
			 Part Knowle Hospital, Wickham (1)- 
			 Land at St Francis Hospital, Haywards Heath (1)- 
			 Leybourne Grange, Maidstone (1)- 
			 Linton Hospital, Maidstone (1)- 
			 Part Milford Hospital, Milford (1)- 
			 Land at Royal Earlswood, Redhill (1)- 
			 Land at Hill House, Rye (1)- 
			 Sheppey Hospital, Sheppey (1)- 
			 Part Southlands Hospital, Shoreham (1)- 
			 Hazel Farm, Southampton (1)- 
			 Land at St Johns Hospital, Stone (1)- 
			 Part Tatchbury Hospital, Calmore (1)- 
			 Fair Mile Hospital, Cholsey (1)- 
			 Land at Celsea Place, Cholsey (1)- 
			 Penny Lodge, Newport Pagnell (1)- 
			 Stretton Hall Farmland, Oadby (1)- 
			 Ashover House, Lincoln (1)- 
			 Carey House, Skegness (1)- 
			 Derby City Chest Clinic, Derby (1)- 
			 Barnsley Hall Land, Bromsgrove (1)- 
			 Land at the Limes, Himley (1)- 
			 Part Lea Castle Hospital, Kidderminster (1)- 
			 Ledbury Cottage Hospital, Ledbury (1)- 
			 Smallwood, Redditch (1)- 
			 Royal Shrewsbury-South (1)- 
			 Land at Chemsley, Solihull (1)- 
			 Land at Middlefield, Knowle (1)- 
			 Land at Bucknall, Bucknall (1)- 
			   
			  2006-07  
			 11 Edith Road, London 247 
			 Bridge Wharf, London 36 
			 48 Park Road, Maidstone 170 
			 31 Pathfields, Shere 210 
			 40 Princes Road, Redhill 162 
			 42 Princes Road, Redhill 150 
			 9 Princes Road, Redhill 200 
			 Orchard Field, Virginia Water 4,420 
			 42 Redan Road, Aldershot 142 
			 44 Redan Road, Aldershot 149 
			 Hollywood Lodge, Epsom 1,200 
			 Eastwood Park, Falfield 3,010 
			 9 Highbury Villas, Bristol 244 
			 Oakleigh, Plymouth 225 
			 Okehampton Castle Hospital, Okehampton 450 
			 57 Park Road, Loughborough 325 
			 Land at Sedgefield 26 
			 Fieldside, Workington 70 
			 Land at St Catherine's, Doncaster 625 
			 Compton Hospice, Wolverhampton 28 
			 Broseley Hospital, Broseley 18 
			 Wellington Cottage Hospital, Telford 245 
			 Gordon Barracks, Rochester 3,850 
			 Wells Cottages, Coulsdon 750 
			 Stone House Hospital, Dartford (1)40,000 
			 St Margaret's Hospital, Epping (1)- 
			 Runwell Hospital, Wickford (1)- 
			 Part Prudhoe Hospital, Prudhoe (1)- 
			 Part Manor Kingsway Hospital, Derby (1)- 
			 Cane Hill Hospital, Coulsdon (1)- 
			 Part Grimsby General Hospital, Grimsby (1)- 
			 St Clements Social Club, Ipswich (1)- 
			 Graylingwell Hospital, Chichester (1)- 
			 The Beeches Hospital, Telford (1)- 
			   
			  2007-08  
			 Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Hackney 8,500 
			 337-339 Hackney Road, Hackney 1,430 
			 18 Paddington Green, London 1,210 
			 Eastry Hospital, Eastry 1,700 
			 35 Higher Kingston, Yeovil 135 
			 10 Woodside, Plymouth 335 
			 St Mary's Hospital, Stannington 3,875 
			 103 Oakwood Drive, Ulverston 129 
			 Sedgefield Hospital, Sedgefield 3,268 
			 Agricultural land, Winterton 105 
			 Willowburn, Maiden Law Hospital, Lanchester 185 
			 112 Northbourne Road, Jarrow 83 
			 140 Hedworth Lane, Jarrow 140 
			 27 Willow Grange, Jarrow 131 
			 Land at South Elmsall, Wakefield 287 
			 18 Battlefield Lane, Holbeach 116 
			 Holbeach Hospital, Holbeach 325 
			 Land at Honey Lane, Waltham Abbey 72 
			 Cherry Knowle Hospital, Sunderland (2)- 
			 Part Towers Hospital, Leicester (2)- 
			   
			  2008-09  
			 10 houses in Surrey 2,200 
			 30 Paul Road, Bodmin 97 
			 Land at Cronehills, West Bromwich 47 
			 Laverneo, Grindon 250 
			 Horton House, Epsom 675 
			 Land at St George's, Romford 77 
			 Morton Banks, Riddlesdon 30 
			 Dog Kennel Wood, Maidstone 40 
			 Land at Drakes Drive, St Alban's 31 
			 Land at The Hawthorns, Swindon 20 
			   
			  2009-10  
			 High Road, Tottenham 255 
			 Land at Napsbury 425 
			 Land at Daisy Bank Cottages, Lancaster 43 
			 Blackbrook House, Fareham 750 
			 Land at Cherry Knowle, Sunderland 12 
			 Woodside Carpark, Plymouth 190 
			 Lakeview Close, Walsall 1,000 
			 10 Palmer Crescent, Ottershaw 160 
			 White Hart, Harrogate 2,240 
			 Land at Shenleybury Cottages, St Albans 71 
			 Chestnut Court, Redhill 425 
			 Land at Herrison, Dorchester 12 
			 Land at Harwich Hospital, Harwich 586 
			 Land at South Cottages, St Albans 50 
			 (1) Part of a portfolio sale to English Partnerships (2) Part of portfolio transfer to English Partnerships

Departmental Buildings

Matthew Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much office space per employee his Department occupied in each year since 1997.

Simon Burns: Information on office space per employee has only been collected since 2004 as part of a pan-government annual property benchmarking exercise. Property benchmarking data for the Department only includes data for Richmond House, Wellington House, Skipton House, New Kings Beam House and Quarry House. Data for 2009-10 is not yet available as the benchmarking exercise is still underway. Office space per employee from 2004-05 to 2008-09 is as follows:
	
		
			   Square metres per employee 
			 2004-05 16.90 
			 2005-06 17.00 
			 2006-07 17.70 
			 2007-08 18.80 
			 2008-09 16.10

Departmental ICT

Graham Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much  (a) his Department and  (b) its agencies and non-departmental public bodies has spent on information and communication technology in each year since 1997.

Simon Burns: The Department's expenditure on information and communication technology (ICT) between 2006-07 and 2009-10 is set out in the following table. Expenditure on ICT between 1997-98 and 2005-06 is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	
		
			  ICT  Totals (£000) 
			 2006-07(1) 81,456 
			 2007-08(1) 88,036 
			 2008-09 54,062 
			 2009-10 48,702 
			 (1 )Includes accommodation and building services spend. 
		
	
	The Department's expenditure incurred in ensuring delivery of the information technology systems under the national programme for information technology, and for maintaining the critical business systems previously provided to the national health service by the former NHS Information Authority, in the years for which information is available, is shown in the following table.
	
		
			  ICT  Total (£  million) 
			 2004-05 620.0 
			 2005-06 968.0 
			 2006-07 1,117.0 
			 2007-08 1,193.0 
			 2008-09 1,063.5 
			 2009-10 1,100.0 
			  Notes: 1. All sums are actual expenditure for the year in question, compiled using the accruals accounting convention, and exclude capital charges.  2. The Department's non-departmental public bodies and agency's expenditure on ICT is not held centrally. Information for period 2001-02 to 2009-10 where central contracts have been used, is set out in the following table. Details of expenditure on ICT prior to 2001 could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. 
		
	
	
		
			  £000 
			  ICT  2001-02  2002-03  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07  2007-08  2008-09  2009-10 
			 Council for Healthcare Regulatory Excellence (1)- (1)- (1)- (1)- (1)- (1)- (1)- 96 75 
			 General Social Care Council 933 141 182 418 246 1,107 778 1,624 1,453 
			 Monitor (1)- (1)- (1)- 6 19 22 22 26 26 
			 Appointments Commission (1)- 111 137 117 118 128 111 220 711 
			 Alcohol Education and Research Council (1)- (1)- (1)- (1)- (1)- (1)- (1)- (1)- (1)- 
			 Care Quality Commission (1)- (1)- (1)- (1)- (1)- (1)- (1)- (1)- 32,007 
			 Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (1)- (1)- (1)- (1)- (1)- (1)- (1)- (1)- (1)- 
			 Health Protection Agency (1)- (1)- (1)- (1)- 6,420 6,794 8,576 11,158 10,331 
			 Human Tissue Authority (1)- (1)- (1)- (1)- (1)- (1)- (1)- (1)- (1)- 
			 Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (1)- (1)- (1)- 12,677 16,500 14,911 12,386 14,106 12,098 
			 (1 )Cells are blank if the arms length body was not in existence or where the information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. (2 )Denotes the Agency.  Notes: 1. Figures may have come from various sources and so may not exactly match with accrual accounts.  2. Figures have been rounded to the nearest £1,000 and may include revenue and capital.

Departmental Public Relations

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the monetary value was of  (a) public opinion research and  (b) public relations contracts awarded by his Department in each of the last five years in (i) London and (ii) each region of England.

Simon Burns: The Department's communications directorate commissioned regular tracking of public attitudes towards the national health service in England. As regional public opinion polling is carried out by strategic health authorities, we are unable to provide a break down by region.
	Departmental expenditure on the tracking of public attitudes contracts 2005-10:
	
		
			   Tracking of public attitudes (excluding VAT)  ( £ ) 
			 2005-06 83,480 
			 2006-07 99,200 
			 2007-08 114,867 
			 2008-09 134,343 
			 2009-10 142,440 
		
	
	Public relations companies have been contracted to support a very wide range of marketing and policy initiatives including major public health behaviour change programmes (such as tobacco control, sexual health, flu immunisation, obesity prevention, hand and respiratory hygiene and drug and alcohol harm reduction programmes) in addition to communicating to the NHS work force and supporting clinical campaigns. The work commissioned through public relations companies includes a wide range of marketing activity including: advertorials, newsletter production, conference and event management, research, creation of content and photography and stakeholder relations activity.
	Figures broken down by regions are not available as most contracts extend over several regions and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	Departmental expenditure on public relations consultancies 2005-10:
	
		
			  £ 
			   Direct expenditure from Department of Health (excluding VAT)  Expenditure through Central Office of Information (excluding VAT) 
			 2005-06 5,080,773 71,756 
			 2006-07 5,017,342 65,580 
			 2007-08 6,438,491 25,582 
			 2008-09 5,397,391 4,200,876 
			 2009-10 2,981,873 3,720,838 
		
	
	The above expenditure includes additional expenditure made directly by NHS Connecting for Health (part of the Department of Health), but excludes any expenditure by arm's length bodies and non-departmental public bodies.

Departmental Rents

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much was paid by his Department in rent for properties in  (a) total and  (b) each region of England in each of the last five years.

Simon Burns: The information on the amount spent in rent by the Department for properties in total, each region and London in the fast five years is shown in the following table.
	
		
			  £ 
			   2005-06  2006-07  2007-08  2008-09  2009-10 
			 Total Rent 14,337,000 14,127,250 14,845,750 15, 153,250 18,359,000 
			  Regions  
			 Eastern 89,750 60,000 66,250 66,250 266,500 
			 East Midlands 18,500 0 0 0 294,000 
			 North East 44,000 35,000 35,000 35,000 163,000 
			 North West 101,000 92,000 65,000 65,000 326,000 
			 South East 273,500 273,250 256,500 256,500 591,000 
			 South West 156,500 152,000 152,000 152,000 493,000 
			 West Midlands 424,000 160,500 190,500 190,500 93,000 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 5,516,000 5,844,000 5,388,000 6,134,000 6,478,000 
			 London 7,713,750 7,510,500 8,192,500 8,254,000 9,454,500 
		
	
	All properties are in England. The amounts listed do not include VAT or serviced accommodation. Serviced accommodation costs cover all services in a building and it is not possible to break these costs down.
	The figures above include rental costs of buildings, which are deemed surplus. Surplus property was returned to the Department for disposal or sublet until the end of the lease and is managed as part of the Department's retained estate. The main reason for the increase in rent paid for 2009-10 was the rationalisation in the arms length body sector estate and a number of properties becoming surplus and being managed as part of the Department's retained estate. The vacant properties are being actively marketed. The total costs for the Department's retained estate from 2005-06 to 2009-10 are as follows:.
	
		
			   £ 
			 2005-06 1,450,000 
			 2006-07 1,312,250 
			 2007-08 1,133,250 
			 2008-09 1,238,250 
			 2009-10 4,072,500 
		
	
	Between 2005-06 and 2008-09, approximately £700,000 per annum was received from sub-lettings from surplus property and this increased to approximately £965,000 in 2009-10.

Doctors: Manpower

Valerie Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many doctors were employed in the NHS in  (a) May 2010 and  (b) 1997.

Simon Burns: The latest available National Health Service Workforce Census details the number of doctors employed in the NHS as at 30 September 2009. The following table shows the total number of doctors employed by the NHS in September 2009 and September 1997.
	
		
			  Number (headcount) 
			   1997  2009 
			 All doctors(1,2) 89,619 140,426 
			  Of which:   
			 Hospital and Community Health Services (HCHS) doctors(1) 60,230 100,628 
			 General practitioners (GPs)(2) 29,339 39,798 
			 (1) Excludes medical Hospital Practitioners and medical Clinical Assistants, most of whom are GPs working part time in hospitals. (2) Retainers were first collected in 1999 and have been excluded from the 2009 figure for comparability.  Data Quality: The NHS Information Centre for health and social care seeks to minimise inaccuracies and the effect of missing and invalid data but responsibility for data accuracy lies with the organisations providing the data. Methods are continually being updated to improve data quality. Where changes impact on figures already published, this is assessed but unless it is significant at national level figures are not changed. Impact at detailed or local level is footnoted in relevant analyses.  Notes: 1. HCHS doctors as at 30 September each year. 2. GP data as at i October 1997 and 30 September 2009.  Sources: 1. The NHS Information Centre for health and social care Medical and Dental Workforce Census 2. The NHS Information Centre for health and social care General and Personal Medical Services Statistics 
		
	
	There is more recent monthly data available for April 2010. It has not been included in the reply, as this would exclude some significant groups such as GPs. The monthly data also only includes staff on the Electronic Staff Record and therefore excludes primary care and bank staff.

Food Standards Agency

Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps the Food Standards Agency took to measure the effectiveness of its recent campaign to encourage people to eat less salt.

Anne Milton: The Food Standards Agency has monitored the effectiveness of its consumer campaigns, and the reductions in average population daily salt intakes as a result of the overall salt reduction programme.
	Evaluation of the four-phase campaign suggests that the number of consumers claiming to make a special effort to cut down the amount of salt in their diet has increased by one-quarter. Of which those who are doing so by checking the label, the increase has been 200%; there has been a 1,000% increase in awareness of the six grams (g) a day message; and there has been a 72% increase in the number of all adults looking at the label to find out the salt content.
	The results of the most recent urinary analysis survey, which took place in 2008, showed a significant fall in the average population daily salt intake of 0.9g (from 9.5g in 2001 to 8.6g).

Food: Allergies

Jon Cruddas: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what mechanisms he plans to put in place to ensure that people with food allergies can access ingredients information when buying food and eating out after the transfer of responsibility for food labelling and provision of information in restaurants and takeaways to his Department.

Anne Milton: The responsibility for food allergy and food intolerance, including labelling and the provision of allergen information is remaining in the Food Standards Agency (FSA), as this is a food safety matter. There will not be any change in the current legal provisions for food allergen labelling following the transfer of responsibility for general food labelling (ie labelling that is not safety or nutrition labelling) to Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA).
	There will be close co-operation between DEFRA, the FSA and the Department to support ongoing negotiations on the proposed Food Information Regulation. This regulation will incorporate existing provisions on the labelling of allergenic ingredients in pre-packed foods and is expected to introduce new requirements to provide allergen information for foods sold unpackaged, including in catering.

General Practitioners

Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many members he expects each GP consortium to have under the proposals in his Department's White Paper.

Simon Burns: We do not wish to be unduly prescriptive about the size of general practitioner commissioning consortia. There have been widespread variations in the size and population coverage of primary care trusts (PCTs), which are currently responsible for commissioning national health service healthcare services, and there is no evidence to suggest a single 'right' size. The NHS Commissioning Board will, however, need to satisfy itself that consortia are of sufficient size to manage financial risk effectively. The consultation document on new NHS commissioning arrangements "Liberating the NHS: Commissioning for patients", published on 22 July, seeks views on whether there should be a minimum or maximum population size for GP commissioning consortia. A copy of the document has already been placed in the Library.

General Practitioners

Andy Burnham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what  (a) research and  (b) other evidence on the capacity of GPs to commission services was used in preparation of his Department's recent White Paper.

Simon Burns: The White Paper, "Equity and Excellence: Liberating the NHS" published on 12 July 2010, sets out our proposals for transforming the quality of commissioning by devolving decision-making to local consortia of general practitioner (GP) practices. "Liberating the NHS: Commissioning for patients", published on 22 July, provides further details on these proposals. There is a body of evidence both from this country and internationally about the importance of involving clinicians in commissioning decisions.
	An analytical strategy was published alongside the White Paper. This set out that, between now and the legislation that will give effect to the proposals, the Department will be developing the analytical framework to give a picture of the likely effects of the White Paper.
	The Department will publish an impact assessment covering the proposals for GP commissioning alongside or shortly after its response to the consultation process. The Department will use the consultation period to inform the development of the impact assessments to ensure that a wide ranging and robust analysis is undertaken.

General Practitioners: Drugs

Kevin Barron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether GP consortia will be entitled to refuse to offer patients clinically appropriate drugs or treatments which have been approved by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence under the proposals in the NHS White Paper.

Simon Burns: The White Paper 'Equity and Excellence: Liberating the NHS', published on 12 July 2010, sets out our proposals for transforming the quality of commissioning by devolving decision-making to local consortiums of general practitioner practices.
	We will be considering this issue as we develop the detail of the new commissioning arrangements but we remain committed to ensuring that patients can access drugs and treatments recommended in National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence technology appraisals.

General Practitioners: Patients

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he plans to take to ensure the maintenance of quality of patient care through the planned transition to GP commissioning.

Simon Burns: The Government's White Paper "Equality and Excellence: Liberating the NHS", published on 12 July, set out proposals for putting local consortia of general medical practitioners in charge of commissioning services to best meet the needs of local people, supported by an independent national health service commissioning board.
	We have now launched a consultation and engagement process on how we should implement these proposals. "Liberating the NHS: commissioning for patients" published on 22 July, which provides more detail on proposed arrangements and seeks views. Both publications have already been placed in the Library.
	NHS chief executive Sir David Nicholson has also written to the chief executive community setting out plans for managing the transition to the new arrangements. His letter set out the initial steps that are being taken at a national level to ensure the NHS continues to deliver for today while designing a new system for tomorrow. It provides a framework within which strategic health authorities can lead this process regionally, and sets out some initial actions that commissioners and providers need to take as part of state of readiness for 2012. It is available from the Department's website at:
	www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Lettersandcirculars/Dearcolleagueletters/DH_117405
	and a copy has been placed in the Library.

General Practitioners: St Albans

Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent estimate he has made of the number and proportion of residents of St Albans constituency who  (a) are registered with a GP and  (b) have access to an NHS dentist.

Simon Burns: Information is not available in the format requested.
	The following table shows general practitioner (GP) registered patients for the St Albans constituency, as at September 2009.
	
		
			  Primary care trust (PCT)  GP registered patients 
			 Hertfordshire PCT 1,167,370 
			  of which:  
			 East and North Hertfordshire PCT 581,750 
			 West Hertfordshire PCT 585,620 
			  Notes: 1. The GP Census collection contains data by trust level only. St Albans Constituency is contained within and served by Hertfordshire PCT. Hertfordshire PCT was created in April 2010 through the merging of two PCTs. These two PCTs, East and North Hertfordshire PCT and West Hertfordshire PCT, were in existence at the time of the census and so data has been shown for each of these, with a cumulative total to reflect the number of registered patients in Hertfordshire PCT. 2. Data is for the number of GP patient registrations shown on the annual GP Census collection as at 30 September 2009. However, this is not resident population data and in fact may be higher than resident population in the given areas due to factors such as multiple registrations and GP systems not being fully up-to-date. Owing to this, proportions of numbers registered (and not registered) cannot be accurately calculated by dividing the numbers presented here by resident population statistics. 3. The numbers shown here represent GP patient registrations to national health service GPs only  4.  Data Quality: The NHS Information Centre for health and social care seeks to minimise inaccuracies and the effect of missing and invalid data but responsibility for data accuracy lies with the organisations providing the data. Methods are continually being updated to improve data quality where changes impact on figures already published. This is assessed but unless it is significant at national level figures are not changed. Impact at detailed or local level is footnoted in relevant analyses.  Source:  The Information Centre for health and social care. 
		
	
	With regards to dental access, under the new dental contractual arrangements, introduced on 1 April 2006, patients do not have to be registered with an NHS dentist to receive NHS care. The closest equivalent measure to 'registration' is the number of patients receiving NHS dental services ('patients seen') over a 24 month period.
	Information on the number and proportion of patients seen in the previous 24 months, in England, is available in Table Dl and D2 of Annex 3 of the NHS Dental Statistics, Quarter 3: 31 December 2009 report. Information is available at quarterly intervals, from 31 March 2006 to 31 December 2009 and is provided by PCT and by strategic health authority.
	This report, published on 20 May 2010, has already been placed in the Library and is also available on the NHS Information Centre website at:
	www.ic.nhs.uk/pubs/dentalstats0910q3
	We have included in our Coalition programme a commitment to the introduction of a new dentistry contract that will focus on achieving good dental health and increasing access to the NHS dentistry.

Health Bill

Andy Burnham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he plans to present the Health Bill to Parliament.

Simon Burns: As announced in the parliamentary debates on the Queen's Speech, the Government will seek to introduce a Health Bill in the autumn.

Health Professions Council

Harriett Baldwin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  whether he has taken note of the comments on the Health Professions Council on the Government's Your Freedom website; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  whether he plans to review the regulatory framework of the Health Professions Council; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  whether he plans to issue guidance to the Health Professions Council on the speed with which professional allegations are handled;
	(4)  what plans he has for the future of the Health Professions Council; and if he will make a statement.

Anne Milton: The Council for Healthcare Regulatory Excellence, which is responsible for the scrutiny and quality assurance of the nine health care professions regulators in the United Kingdom, recently published their annual performance review. In respect of the Health Professions Council (HPC) it commented that the HPC
	"is a well organised, efficient and cost-effective regulator. This has helped it maintain a good performance during a year which saw it assume responsibility for two further professions..."
	As we recently announced in the review of the Department's arms length bodies we intend to transfer the regulatory function of the General Social Care Council in respect of social workers to the HPC.
	The Health Professions Council is an independent statutory organisation and as such neither the Government, nor the Department, has any powers to issue guidance or interfere in its activities.
	The Government are currently considering their overall approach to the regulation of health and social care workers, including the legislative framework. No firm decisions have been made. We will of course take note of any comments we receive including comments from the Government's Your Freedom website.

Health Services: Finance

Kevin Barron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether GP consortia will be entitled to take any unspent part of their  (a) commissioning budget and  (b) management allowance as profit under the proposals in the NHS White Paper.

Simon Burns: Within commissioning budgets, general practitioner (GP) consortiums will receive a maximum management allowance to reflect the management costs associated with commissioning. Consortiums will be free to decide how to use this management allowance to carry out commissioning activities.
	With the exception of this management allowance the consortium's commissioning budget must be used exclusively for the commissioning of patient care. It will be distinct from the income that GP practices earn under their primary medical care contract, from which they both meet their practice expenses, and derive their personal income.
	Health outcomes for patients will depend both on the quality of services that GP practices provide and on the quality of GP commissioning. We therefore propose, subject to discussion with the British Medical Association and the profession, that a proportion of GP practice income should be linked to the outcomes that practices achieve collaboratively through commissioning consortiums, and the effectiveness with which they manage national health service financial resources.
	'Liberating the NHS: Commissioning for patients', published on 22 July, sets out further information on the intended arrangements for GP commissioning, providing the basis for fuller engagement with primary care professionals and the public.

Health Services: Greater London

Clive Efford: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects the implementation of the Southeast London Healthcare Trust A Picture of Health programme to be completed; and if he will make a statement.

Simon Burns: This is a matter for the local national health service. The Secretary of State for Health has outlined four tests that decisions on NHS service changes must meet. Change must improve patient outcomes; consider patient choice; have support from general practitioner commissioners; and be based on sound clinical evidence. The NHS in South East London will need to make sure any plans for change have local support and meet these tests.

Health Services: Prisoners

Glenda Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health who will be responsible for delivering  (a) health and  (b) mental health services in prisons (i) during and (ii) after the implementation of the changes in commissioning services proposed in his Department's White Paper.

Paul Burstow: Primary care trusts are responsible for delivering healthcare services in prisons during the White Paper consultation period and until the Health Bill is passed. Once this is enacted, the national health service commissioning board will be responsible for commissioning prison health services and will work with criminal justice agencies and general practitioner consortia to determine the most appropriate arrangements for prison health services.

NHS: Accountancy

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the costs that will be incurred in establishing the monitoring arrangements to ensure accountability in the new system for management of health general practices.

Simon Burns: The White Paper 'Equity and Excellence Liberating the NHS' laid out proposals for fundamental changes to the ways that the national health service is structured and run. The precise costs of the transition to the new system, and of running the new organisation, will not be known until the new organisations that will underpin the new system have been designed in more detail. A number of consultations on how the new organisations should be designed have been published, and once the results of this are known we will publish the costs of the new system in an impact assessment.

NHS: Reorganisation

Andy Burnham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the estimated cost to the public purse is of planned NHS reorganisation in  (a) 2010-11,  (b) 2011-12 and  (c) 2012-13.

Simon Burns: The White Paper "Equity and Excellence Liberating the NHS" laid out proposals for fundamental changes to the ways that the national health service is structured and run. The precise costs of the transition to the new system will not be known until the new organisations that will underpin the new system have been designed in more detail.
	A number of consultations on how the new organisations should be designed have been published, and once the results of this are known we will publish the costs of the new system in an impact assessment.

NHS: Reorganisation

Andy Burnham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much funding he has allocated to meet the costs of redundancies resulting from the proposed restructuring of healthcare provision.

Simon Burns: The White Paper "Equity and Excellence Liberating the NHS" laid out proposals for fundamental changes to the ways that the national health service is structured and run. The precise costs of the transition to the new system, including the costs of any redundancies, will not be known until the new organisations that will underpin the new system have been designed in more detail.
	A number of consultations on how the new organisations should be designed have been published, and once the results of this are known we will publish the costs of the new system in an impact assessment. However, we have made it clear that the running costs of the new system will be lower than the running costs of the current system.

NHS: Reorganisation

Andy Burnham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what additional payment local authorities will receive to carry out the new functions described on page 49 of his Department's White Paper, Equity and Excellence, Liberating the NHS.

Simon Burns: "Equity and Excellence: Liberating the NHS" outlines an enhanced role for local authorities in relation to health improvement, joint commissioning and local voice.
	Primary care trust responsibilities for local health improvement will transfer to local authorities, who will employ the director of public health, jointly appointed with the new public health service. The Department will create a ring-fenced public health budget and, within this, local directors of public health will be responsible for health improvement funds allocated according to relative population health need. The local ring-fenced public health budget will be based on current identifiable expenditure. The allocation formula for those funds will include a new "health premium" designed to promote action to improve population-wide health and reduce health inequalities. Work is currently under way to determine baseline spending and the details of how local ring-fenced public health budgets will be determined. Further details will be made available in due course.
	Local authorities will be given the new function of joining up the commissioning of local national health service services, social care and health improvement. They will also be responsible for funding local HealthWatch organisations, as local consumer champions, building on the current role of local involvement networks (LINks). The Government are currently consulting on whether local HealthWatch should also take on the wider role of providing NHS complaints advocacy services and supporting individuals to exercise choice. The Government are considering what funding needs to be transferred to local authorities to reflect these new functions.

Out of Area Treatment: Wales

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions he has had with his counterpart in the Welsh Assembly Government on the operation of cross-border co-operation arrangements delivering health care following his proposed structural changes in England.

Anne Milton: Since the election, there have been no formal discussions between Secretary of State for Health and the Minister for Health and Social Services; a meeting is being planned for later this year.

Pulmonary Embolism

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what information he has received on the number of providers regularly undertaking root cause analysis on all confirmed cases of hospital-acquired pulmonary embolism and deep vein thrombosis in the last 12 months;
	(2)  what information he has received on the number of providers regularly undertaking local audits on the percentage of people risk-assessed for venous thromboembolism who receive the appropriate prophylaxis in the last 12 months.

Simon Burns: This information is not collected centrally. From 1 April 2010, the NHS standard contract for acute services requires providers to report to their lead commissioner on local audits of the percentage of patients risk-assessed for venous thromboembolism, who receive the appropriate prophylaxis and, report to their lead commissioner on root cause analysis of all confirmed cases of hospital acquired pulmonary embolism and deep vein thrombosis.

Taxis

Matthew Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much his Department spent on taxi fares in each year since 1997.

Simon Burns: The Department has spent the following on its central contracts for taxis since April 2004:
	
		
			  £ 
			   Addison Lee  Green Cars  Computer Cabs  Total 
			 2004-05 423,212.06 - - 423,212.06 
			 2005-06 414,100.68 - - 414,100.68 
			 2006-07 306,309.56 - - 306,309.56 
			 2007-08 336,933.86 - - 336,933.86 
			 2008-09 291,985.23 (1)22,935.58 - 314,920.81 
			 2009-10 184,328.72 23,043.58 8,471.56 215,843.86 
			 (1) The Green Cars contract commenced in September 2008 
		
	
	The central contracts with Addison Lee and Green Cars terminated on 31 October 2009. The central contract with Computer Cabs began on 1 November 2009 and is currently in use by staff for whom a reasonable adjustment is required.
	The figures supplied above, go back six years in accordance with the Retention Schedule, which is informed by the National Archives 'Records Management Retention Scheduling-Employee Personnel Records' (page 6, 'Travel and Subsistence-claims and authorisation'-retention period of six years).
	In addition to the central contracts there is local contract between the Department's Communications Directorate and CityFleet. This began in February 2010 and up to the end of the financial year 2009-10 cost £218.69.
	Other taxi fares may be claimed via staff expenses. Since July 2008, when the Department's Business Management System was launched the figures are as follows:
	
		
			   Total (£) 
			 2008-09 108,424.55 
			 2009-10 153,158.48 
		
	
	The Department's accounting system in operation before July 2008, known as VISTA, did not have a specific sub code for taxis and so a figure cannot be supplied without scrutinizing individual claims at disproportionate cost.

Thromboembolism

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of hospitals returned the CQUIN mandatory data collection forms on the nationally defined goal on reducing the incidence of venous thromboembolism by the deadline of 1 June 2010.

Simon Burns: The mandatory venous thromboembolism risk assessment data collection required from providers of acute national health service services commenced on 1 June 2010. Providers are required to submit their first data return for June no later than 28 July 2010. We will be reviewing the quality of this data with a view to later publication.

Tobacco: Sales

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Liverpool, Wavertree of 19 July 2010,  Official Report, column 96W, on tobacco: sales, what recent discussions he has had on the implementation of the provisions in the Health Act 2009 in respect of the prohibition of sales of tobacco products from vending machines from 1 October 2011.

Anne Milton: We continue to consider how best to tackle smoking prevalence in the context of our focus on public health. To date no cross-government discussions have taken place in respect of tobacco sales from vending machines.

British Constitution

Paul Murphy: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office whether he plans to meet the First Minister of  (a) Northern Ireland,  (b) Scotland and  (c) Wales to discuss the Government's proposed constitutional reforms.

Francis Maude: The Deputy Prime Minister has responsibility for political and constitutional reform. I therefore have no plan to meet with the First Ministers of Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales to discuss constitutional reform.

Government Departments: MITIE Group

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what contracts each Government department  (a) holds with Management Incentive Through Investment Equity Group plc and  (b) held with the company in each year since 1990; what the length of each such contract was; and what payments have been made under each such contract.

Francis Maude: Data on MITIE's contracts with Central Government for each year since 1990 is not available centrally. From 1 January 2011, the Government will publish details of all new contracts with its suppliers.

Low Incomes: East of England

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many children in each constituency in the East of England live in households with below 60% of the median net disposable household income before housing costs.

Maria Miller: I have been asked to reply.
	Estimates of the number and proportion of children living in poverty are published in the Households Below Average Income (HBAI) series. HBAI uses household income adjusted (or "equivalised") for household size and composition, to provide a proxy for standard of living.
	As they are based on survey data, child poverty estimates published in HBAI only allow breakdowns to Government office region and analysis by parliamentary constituency is not possible. However, figures for East of England are set out in the following table.
	
		
			  Number and percentage of children living in households with less than 60% of contemporary median household income for the East of England, before housing costs 
			  Period  Number (million)  Percentage 
			 2006-07 to 2008-09 0.2 16 
			  Notes: 1. These statistics are based on the Households Below Average Income series, sourced from the Family Resources Survey. 2. All estimates are based on survey data and are therefore subject to uncertainty. 3. The reference period for Households Below Average Income figures are single financial years. Three survey years have been combined as regional single year estimates are subject to volatility. 4. The income measures used to derive the estimates shown employ the same methodology as the Department for Work and Pensions publication "Households Below Average Income" (HBAI) series, which uses disposable household income, adjusted (or "equivalised") for household size and composition, as an income measure as a proxy for standard of living. 5. For the Households Below Average Income series, incomes have been equivalised using Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) modified equivalisation factors. 6. Numbers of adults and children in low-income households have been rounded to the nearest 100,000.  Source: Households Below Average Income, DWP. 
		
	
	Measures of income poverty at constituency level are available with National Indicator 116. This indicator shows the number and proportion of children living in families in receipt of child tax credit whose reported income is less than 60% of the median income or in receipt of income support or income-based jobseeker's allowance.
	Due to methodological differences to the HBAI publication, these small area estimates are not directly comparable with national or regional figures. Nl 116 does not necessarily capture all those, or only those, children living in households below the 60% of median threshold.
	Published data for the East of England constituencies for August 2007 and August 2006 can be found at:
	http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/personal-tax-credits/child_poverty.htm
	Income measures do not necessarily capture all aspects of poverty or inequality facing children and their families and the Government are committed to tackling the causes of poverty and not just treating the symptoms. We must tackle the root causes of how people get trapped in poverty, breaking the cycle of disadvantage and dependency culture to stimulate social mobility.
	Frank Field has been asked to lead an independent review of poverty and life chances including examining the case for reforms to poverty measures, in particular for the inclusion of non-financial elements. The review will explore whether there are measures that can improve the way poverty is tackled, ensuring we focus on the root causes and the paths into poverty as well as looking at the non-financial side.

NDPBs

Tristram Hunt: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what estimate has been made of the reduction in public expenditure which will arise from implementation of the provisions of the proposed Public Bodies (Reform) Bill.

Francis Maude: The primary aim of the planned Public Bodies Bill is to increase the accountability of public bodies, but we also expect that abolitions and mergers arising from the Bill will create savings in future years and departments will be incorporating initial savings into their spending review plans. No estimate has yet been made of the level of savings expected.

British Constitution

Paul Murphy: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will refer to the British-Irish Council and the Joint Ministerial Council the matter of the effect on the devolved administrations of the Government's proposed constitutional reform.

Mark Harper: The Government discussed the coalition agreement and those elements within it, including constitutional, reform, which were likely to be of most significance to the devolved Administrations at the plenary meeting of the Joint Ministerial Committee (JMC) in June. The Government's constitutional reform agenda was also discussed in July at the inter-governmental senior officials' forum which supports the JMC. We will continue to work collaboratively with the devolved Administrations and the forward work programme for the JMC and JMC (Domestic) will be the subject of discussion by ministers collectively at the first meeting of JMC (Domestic) in the autumn. These matters are not appropriate for discussion at the British-Irish Council, which contains members who are not part of the United Kingdom.

Civil Servants: Redundancy Pay

Angela Eagle: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what recent estimate he has made of the  (a) mean,  (b) median and  (c) mode annual pension payment currently made in the Civil Service Pension scheme.

Francis Maude: As at 31 March 2010 the mean annual pension payment to former civil servants and their dependents was £6,767.44. The median payment was £4,302.01. Rounded to the nearest £ the mode figure was £1,184.

Constituencies

Chris Ruane: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will take steps to ensure that un-registered electors are placed on the electoral register before the implementation of his proposals to change the size of parliamentary constituencies.

Mark Harper: As the Deputy Prime Minister made clear in his statement to the House on 5 July, calculations for the electoral quota will be derived from the register published on 1 December 2010. The canvass for this register will be carried out under the existing household registration arrangements as is the usual practice.
	The Government are currently considering the options for speeding up the implementation of individual electoral registration in a way that will improve the levels of registration and will announce its approach to this in due course.

Electoral Register

Chris Ruane: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what assessment he has made of the trends in variation in electoral registration at  (a) local and  (b) regional level; and if he will make a statement.

Mark Harper: The Government have not made such an assessment. The Electoral Commission's report: "The completeness and accuracy of electoral registers in Great Britain", published in March 2010, provides a high level assessment of voter registration at a national level and a more detailed analysis in a number of case study areas.
	On local and regional variations, the Commission found that there were
	"growing local and regional variations in the completeness and accuracy of the registers, with metropolitan and unitary areas outside of Greater London experiencing the greatest levels of decline."
	Further, it found that:
	"The highest concentrations of under-registration are most likely to be found in metropolitan areas, smaller towns and cities with large student populations, and coastal areas with significant population turnover and high levels of social deprivation."
	However, although the report provides an initial analysis of the factors which may explain local and regional variations, it identifies the need for further analysis and additional research
	"into the reasons for the apparent decline in registration levels and the growth of local and regional variations".
	Further detail on the Commission's findings can be found at:
	http://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/publications-and-research/policy-and-research?query=&meta_s_phrase=Electoral _register&meta_dyear=&sort=relevancy&daat=on

Voting Systems: Referendums

Christopher Chope: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what recent estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of holding the proposed referendum on the alternative vote system.

Mark Harper: As indicated in the written answer provided to the right hon. Member for Blackburn (Mr Straw) and the hon. Members for Bolton North East (Mr Crausby) and Dunfermline and West Fife, (Thomas Docherty) on 14 July 2010,  Official Report, column 798W, many of the cost elements of running the proposed referendum on the alternative vote system will be similar to those for a general election. The previous Government estimated the cost for conduct elements of the 2010 general election in Great Britain at £82.1 million-30 March 2010,  Official Report, column 1079W. Based on this, and our modelling for the 2009 European and 2010 general elections, it can be estimated that the cost of conduct elements for the proposed referendum will be similar. We have made initial assumptions about the conduct costs of a referendum were it not to be combined with any other polls and on that basis we currently estimate a saving of £17 million on the conduct costs of the referendum through combination.
	Additionally, as indicated in the written answer by my hon. Friend the Member for South West Devon (Mr Streeter) of 6 July 2010,  Official Report, column 144W, the Electoral Commission has estimated that the cost of its own activities in relation to the referendum at £9.3 million.
	Under the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000, designated lead campaign organisations are entitled to send a referendum address post free, similar to the entitlement in place for candidates at general elections. The cost of funding this entitlement does not form part of the costs of the conduct of the poll. The Government are considering how this entitlement will apply at the referendum on the alternative vote.

Camelot: Post Offices

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport if he will direct Post Office Ltd. not to carry out an assessment into the impact of Camelot's proposals to enter the bill payment and mobile top-up market on the income of sub-post offices while Post Office Ltd. is a named partner in the Camelot proposal; and if he will make a statement.

John Penrose: holding answer 13 July 2010
	The Secretary of State has no power to intervene in this process.
	On 8 April 2010, the Commission published a clarification to Camelot's proposals which explained
	"there is currently no concluded agreement between the Post Office and Camelot in relation to the provision of commercial services...All discussions with the Post Office have been on an exploratory basis only and there is no certainty that they will progress beyond this stage."
	On 16 July, the National Lottery Commission announced its decision on the proposals from Camelot to offer commercial services through national lottery terminals.
	The Commission is minded to refuse to grant consent to Camelot's application to undertake these ancillary activities on the basis of the EU/competition law concerns it raises. It is a provisional decision in order to give those who are interested in the Commission's decision a final opportunity to make representations, these should be made by 3 September 2010.

Departmental Assets

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport which former  (a) buildings and  (b) land owned by (i) his Department and (ii) (A) non-departmental public bodies and (B) agencies for which his Department is responsible have been sold since May 2005; what the sale price of each was at the time of sale; and to which body the funds from the sale accrued in each case.

John Penrose: In 2006-07, the Department sold one freehold property in Windsor, and the freehold title to another property to the holder of a long lease of that property. The total proceeds received were £472,000 and were retained by the Department to fund its capital programme.
	In October 2005, following special legislation, the Department completed the sale of a strip of land at Kensington Palace Gardens to an adjacent freeholder for £2.5 million. The proceeds were retained by the Department. An additional Grant-in-Aid of the same value was made to the Royal Household for capital works to the Occupied Royal Palaces.
	In June 2008, the Department sold the freehold site to the North of the British Library at Brill Place, Camden, London NW1 for £85 million to a consortium led by the Medical Research Council. As agreed with HM Treasury, £39.8 million of the sale proceeds was retained by the Department as "non-operating Appropriations-in-Aid" to help fund its capital programme and arms length bodies. The £45.2million balance of the sale proceeds was surrendered to the Consolidated Fund.
	Our Executive Agency, The Royal Parks, has not sold land or buildings since May 2005.
	The Department does not collate information on the buildings and land sold by its arm's length bodies.
	Accordingly, I have asked their chief executives to write to the hon. Member for Angus . Copies of the replies will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

Departmental Public Consultation

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what steps he is taking to increase the involvement of young members of the public in the making of decisions that effect them by  (a) Ministers in his Department,  (b) officials in his Department and  (c) public bodies which fall within his Department's area of responsibility.

John Penrose: This Department has not dedicated specific resource to targeting input from young people in decisions. However the opportunity is available for everyone to contribute their views by contacting the Department through several channels, including the DCMS twitter account, as well as more traditional correspondence routes.
	The Department's public bodies are responsible for developing their own decision making processes and engagement strategies. To provide information on what steps each of these bodies are taking to increase the involvement of young people would incur disproportionate cost.

Digital Broadcasting

Mark Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport whether he plans to upgrade relay transmitters across the UK so that all transmitters can receive all channels available on Freeview.

Edward Vaizey: As the independent regulator for the communications industry, Ofcom is responsible for ensuring broadcasters and transmission operators comply with their licence conditions in areas such as transmission coverage and reception, including monitoring the quality and quantity of reception received through relay transmitters.
	I have therefore asked Ofcom's chief executive to consider the question raised by the hon. Member for Ceredigion and to write to him direct
	Copies of the reply will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

Digital Broadcasting: Radio

Susan Elan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what his most recent estimate is of the extent of coverage for digital radio reception in Wales; and what steps his Department is taking to increase it.

Edward Vaizey: In 2008 the Digital Radio Working Group made an assessment of the coverage of Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB) across the UK. The coverage figures, which are separated into coverage of the two national multiplexes and indoor and mobile coverage, for Wales are set out in the table:
	
		
			  DAB coverage in Wales (Percentage of population) 
			   BBC national multiplex( 1)  Commercial national multiplex 
			 Mobile DAB 73.6 82.2 
			 Indoor DAB 63.3 73.5 
			 (1) These figures do not reflect the transmitters built in Wales since 2008, which we believe have increased the BBC's coverage to mobile DAB: 79% and indoor DAB: 85%.  Source:  Digital Radio Working Croup Spectrum Report 2008 
		
	
	Ofcom are leading a review of future DAB coverage planning, as part of the Digital Radio Action Plan launched last month, to determine the most technically efficient way of matching DAB coverage levels to FM. Ofcom will report back to the Secretary of State with the conclusions of this process by the summer 2011.

Gaming Machines

James Wharton: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of the merits of increasing to £2 the maximum single stake for B3 gaming machines in amusement arcades;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of the merits of increasing to 20 per cent. the proportion of B3 machines permissible in amusement arcades.

John Penrose: On 23 June 2010, I met representatives of the British Amusement Catering Trades Association (BACTA) to discuss a range of issues affecting the gaming machine industry. This included the case for increasing to £2 the maximum single stake for B3 gaming machines and increasing to 20% the proportion of B3 machines permissible in amusement arcades as a means of helping such businesses remain competitive. I am now considering these matters in the context of the public protection objectives of the Gambling Act 2005 and hope to make an announcement shortly.

Olympic Games 2012: Contracts

Hywel Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport how many  (a) applications for contracts have been received and  (b) contracts have been awarded to firms located in (i) Wales, (ii) each region of England, (iii) Scotland, (iv) Northern Ireland and (v) elsewhere by the Olympic Delivery Authority.

Hugh Robertson: holding answer 26 July 2010
	Data from the Olympic Delivery Authority's eTendering system, covering procurements with an estimated value in excess of £25,000, show that a total of 4,142 tenders were received February 2007 to the end of June 2010.
	Of these:
	(i) Wales: 25
	(ii) England total: 2,013
	1. West Midlands: 98
	2. East of England: 164
	3. East Midlands: 74
	4. London: 1,056
	5. North East: 21
	6. North West: 67
	7. South East: 419
	8. South West: 66
	9. Yorkshire and Humberside: 48
	(iii) Scotland: 27
	(iv) Northern Ireland: 11
	(v) Overseas: 53
	The ODA was established in April 2006 and set up its eTendering system in February 2007. Tenders under £25,000 are not tracked through the ODA's central procurement system. To establish where firms are based for tenders before February 2007 or under £25,000 would incur disproportionate costs.
	The ODA now shares eTendering system that it uses with the London Organising Committee of the Olympic games and Paralympic games (LOCOG) and its major contractors. The ODA has advised that it is not possible to provide information that distinguishes applications for contracts to each of these organisations, the data that it has provided therefore includes responses to invitations to tenders raised by those other organisations in addition to the responses to the ODA Information on businesses that have directly supplied the ODA is available in the business section of the London 2012 website under the heading ODA suppliers, where you will be able to find suppliers listed by venue and sector:
	http://www.london2012.com/business
	In addition there are thou sands more companies that have applied for and accessed opportunities through the supply chains of the tier one contractors. The ODA estimates that up to 50,000 opportunities will be generated in its supply chains.

Olympic Games 2012: Hertfordshire

Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport how many contracts related to the London 2012 Olympics have been awarded to businesses and organisations in  (a) St Albans constituency and  (b) Hertfordshire; and what the monetary value of such contracts is.

Hugh Robertson: Information on businesses in the East of England that have directly supplied the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) is available in the business section of the London 2012 website under the heading ODA Suppliers, where you will be able to find suppliers listed by venue and sector:
	http://www.london2012.com/business
	The estimated value of the contracts awarded to businesses in Hertfordshire is £646,480,257, of this the value of contracts awarded to businesses in St Albans is £2,502,774. These figures only account for the contracts awarded by the ODA's to its own top tier of contractors (tier one contractors). The figures do not include the values of contracts further down the supply chain, in tiers two, three and so on, which are awarded by the tier one contractors and not by the ODA. The ODA estimates that the total value of supply chain contracts to the regions runs into millions of pounds, but these are not public procurements and so the full value of contracts won across the UK is not captured by the figures provided. The ODA estimates that overall up to 50,000 contracts will be generated throughout its supply chains.

Olympic Games 2012: Northern Region

Greg Mulholland: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport how many contracts related to the London 2012 Olympics have been awarded to businesses and organisations in  (a) North England,  (b) Yorkshire and  (c) Leeds; and what the monetary value of such contracts is.

Hugh Robertson: Information on businesses across the nations and regions that have directly supplied the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) is available in the business section of the London 2012 website under the heading ODA Suppliers, where you will be able to find suppliers listed by venue and sector:
	www.london2012.com/business
	Here you will also find information on businesses that have won contracts in the supply chains of the ODA's contractors.
	The estimated value of the contracts awarded to businesses in the North West of England is £96,156,682, the figure for businesses in the North East of England is £9,457,409 and in Yorkshire and the Humber it is £65,069,036. Of the Yorkshire and the Humber figure, £18,357,494 worth of contracts has been awarded to businesses in Leeds. These figures represent the committed spend to date, rather than the end contract value, as in many cases this will not yet be known. These figures only account for the contracts awarded by the ODA to its own top tier of contractors (tier one contractors). The figures do not include the values of contracts further down the supply chain, in tiers two, three and so on, which are awarded by the tier one contractors and not by the ODA. The ODA estimates that the total value of supply chain contracts to the regions runs into millions of pounds, but these are not public procurements and so the full value of contracts won across the UK is not captured by the figures provided. The ODA estimates that overall up to 50,000 contracts will be generated throughout its supply chains.

Olympic Games 2012: Wales

Alun Cairns: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport which companies based in  (a) Wales and  (b) the Vale of Glamorgan have been involved in construction projects for the London 2012 Olympics.

Hugh Robertson: Information on businesses based in  (a) Wales and  (b) the Vale of Glamorgan that have directly supplied the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) is available in the business section of the London 2012 website, under the heading ODA Suppliers, where you will be able to find suppliers listed by venue and sector:
	www.london2012.com/business
	Here you will also find information on businesses that have won contracts in the supply chains of the ODA's contractors.

Olympic Games 2012: West Midlands

Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport if he will make financial assistance available to volunteers from Shropshire and the West Midlands at the London 2012 Olympics to travel to and from London.

Hugh Robertson: London Organising Committee for the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) launched its London 2012 'Games Makers' volunteer scheme on 27 July 2010. Accommodation and travel costs for volunteers to reach London will not be covered within the LOCOG scheme, however volunteers will be provided with a zones 1-6 travel card and refreshments when they are on-shift There are no plans to provide central funding to LOCOG volunteers to cover these costs. However the many venues across the UK will give people the chance to get involved with the games in their own local area.

Trade Unions

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport how many civil servants in his Department spent the equivalent of  (a) five days or fewer,  (b) five to 10 days,  (c) 10 to 15 days,  (d) 15 to 20 days,  (e) 20 to 25 days and  (f) 25 days or more on trade union-related activities or duties while being paid salaries from the public purse in each year since 1997.

John Penrose: To maintain good and effective employee relations, DCMS ensures that accredited representatives have sufficient time to undertake their representative duties effectively.
	A partnership agreement between DCMS and the trade unions came into effect in April 2001. Based on the facility time allocations set out in the partnership agreement, the average number of days staff spent annually since 2001 to date on trade union activities in each year is set out in the table:
	
		
			  Average number of days  Number of civil servants 
			 5 days or fewer 0 
			 5 to 10 days 0 
			 10 to 15 days 7 
			 15 to 20 days 0 
			 20 to 25 days 5 
			 25 days or more 2 
		
	
	There is no central data from 1997 to March 2001.

Academies

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what guidance his Department issues on whether members of staff of a maintained school may vote on a resolution on application for academy status proposed by the governing body.

Nick Gibb: As part of the application to convert, the school's governing body will need to pass a resolution signalling its intention to convert to an Academy. The school's governing body will include representation from school staff as well as parents and the local authority. The majority of the governing body will need to be in favour of converting to an Academy.

Academies: Faith Schools

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what steps he plans to take to ensure the provision of a balanced curriculum for pupils in academy faith schools.

Nick Gibb: holding answer 22 July 2010
	 All academies, including faith academies, are required to provide a broad and balanced curriculum satisfying the requirements of section 78 of the Education Act 2002 via their funding agreement. The Academy Trust must ensure that this includes English, mathematics and science.
	The provision of a balanced curriculum is set out in the funding agreement. The Young People's Learning Agency (YPLA) is responsible for ensuring that open academies comply with their funding agreements. A model funding agreement for outstanding schools converting to academies is available to view at:
	www.education.gov.uk/academies

Curriculum

Jake Berry: To ask the Secretary of State for Education whether he plans to enable all schools to have discretion on whether to follow the national curriculum.

Nick Gibb: All maintained schools are currently required to follow the National Curriculum and we have no plans to change that requirement. Subject to the passing of the Academies Bill, academies will offer a broad and balanced curriculum. Through their Funding Agreements, they will also be required to teach English, mathematics and science. They will not, however, be required to follow the National Curriculum.

Departmental Public Expenditure

Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Education which categories of  (a) contracts for the provision of services to his Department and  (b) grants to charities made by his Department require Ministerial approval.

Tim Loughton: Ministers set the policy direction of the Department which will ultimately result in spend but there is no requirement for them to approve specific categories of expenditure.

Departmental Reorganisation

Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how much it cost to rename the Department of Children, Schools and Families as the Department for Education.

Tim Loughton: The cost of renaming the Department was £5,250.

Education: Finance

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will direct his Department's review of capital spending in schools and colleges to  (a) examine the capital funding requirements of sixth form colleges and  (b) make recommendations for their future funding.

Nick Gibb: The Department's review of capital spending to be conducted by Sebastian James, group operations director of DSG International plc will review all Department for Education capital investment programmes. The review will guide future spending decisions over the next spending review period (2011-12 to 2014-15) and will look at how best to meet demand, and make current design and procurement cost effective and efficient. The review team will consult the sixth form college sector to inform its conclusions and recommendations.

Free Schools

Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what guidance his Department offers to parents wishing to set up a new school.

Nick Gibb: The guidance provided by the Department for Education to parents and organisations wishing to set up a Free School is available at:
	www.education.gov.uk/freeschools
	The Department will work with those involved in setting up the first Free Schools to develop its guidance overtime. The New Schools Network also provides advice and support to parents and organisations who wish to set up a Free School.

Higher Education: Admissions

Meg Munn: To ask the Secretary of State for Education whether he plans to continue to strengthen entry requirements for university entrance for students taking social work degrees from September 2012.

Tim Loughton: holding answer 26 July 2010
	 On 2 June 2010, the Secretary of State for Education confirmed the Government's intention to take forward and build upon the recommendations of the Social Work Task Force. Among their recommendations, the task force concluded that the entry requirements for the social work degree should be strengthened.
	The Social Work Reform Board is taking forward the task force's recommendations and is considering a number of approaches to improving the calibre of people embarking on the social work degree. It will put advice to Ministers on how best to strengthen the entry requirements for social work students in due course.

Pre-school Education

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what his policy is on the suspension of the code of practice on the provision of free nursery education places; and if he will make a statement.

Sarah Teather: The coalition agreement is clear in its support for free nursery provision and that we want it to reach the most vulnerable families. We announced on 7 June that we will be extending free nursery education to 15 hours a week from September 2010. As with all government spending, decisions about future years will be taken as part of the spending review process.
	The revised code of practice-which is statutory guidance on provision of free nursery education-is due to come into force in September. I am considering whether it would be helpful to review this guidance. However, current primary legislation requires local authorities to secure early years provision free of charge, whether or not there is statutory guidance in place.

Teach First

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many graduates from each region have taken part in the Teach First programme.

Tim Loughton: The Teach First initiative was launched in London in 2003, extended to Manchester in 2006, the Midlands in 2007, Liverpool in 2008 and Yorkshire from 2009.
	The available data relating to Teach First recruits by their home region relates to the 2008/09 academic year only, and is given in the table. Final recruitment data for 2009/10 are expected to be published in January 2011.
	
		
			  Recruitment to the Teach First Programme. Coverage: Government office region, England 
			  2008/09  Number of recruits to the Teach First Programme 
			 England 370 
			   
			  Trainee home region:  
			 North East 5 
			 North West 45 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 15 
			 East Midlands 15 
			 West Midlands 55 
			 East of England 20 
			 London 150 
			 South East 35 
			 South West 15 
			   
			 Unknown 15 
			  Note; Numbers have been rounded to the nearest five.  Source: TDA's Teach First Database

Westgate School Newcastle

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Education whether the funding allocated by Newcastle's Capital Fund to Westgate Primary School in 2008 will continue.

Nick Gibb: Capital funding including funding for primary schools will form part of the capital review announced by the Secretary of State on 5 July. The review is scheduled to release an interim report in the autumn of 2010 and its final findings by the end of the calendar year. All funding after this financial year is subject to the outcomes of the comprehensive spending review.

Apprentices

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what the qualifying criteria are for small firms to obtain the £2,000 grant for taking on an apprentice; and if he will make a statement.

John Hayes: At present there is no national Government subsidy for employers of any size when they recruit an apprentice. I recognise the attraction of such a policy but in the context of the current fiscal climate we need to be cautious and ensure that we secure the best possible value for our apprenticeship funding.
	Earlier this year the National Apprenticeship Service ran the Apprenticeship Grant for Employers, a time-limited initiative which gave 5,000 SMEs a subsidy of £2,500 for recruitment of a 16 or 17 year-old apprentice. We will want to consider the evaluation of this initiative carefully before making any decisions about future subsidies for SMEs.
	However, Government do fully fund the training costs for 16-18 year old apprentices, and makes a significant contribution towards the training costs for adult apprentices.

BP: Libya

Robert Halfon: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what meetings  (a) Ministers and  (b) officials in his Department had with (i) BP and (ii) the government of Libya on oil drilling off the coast of Libya between July 2007 and March 2008.

Mark Prisk: There were no meetings in the period July 2007 to March 2008 between the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills and BP, or the Government of Libya, concerning oil drilling off the Libyan coast, at either ministerial or official level.

Civil Service Live Conference

Graham Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what the cost to the public purse was of the  (a) BusinessLink and  (b) Government Office for Science stand at Civil Service Live 2010.

Edward Davey: Businesslink.gov shared a Government on-line exhibition stand at Civil Service Live 2010 with Directgov and NHS Choices. The total cost of the stand was £12,200. The Business Link contribution to this was £4,300, paid by HMRC who manage the businesslink.gov website.
	The Government office for science shared an exhibition stand with the Office of National Statistics. The total cost of the stand was £18,700. The Government office for science contribution to this was £9,350.

Departmental Motor Vehicles

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what the annual expenditure on vehicles of  (a) his Department and  (b) each (i) non-departmental public body and (ii) executive agency for which his Department is responsible in each English region was in each of the last three financial years; and what the planned expenditure for 2010-11 is in each case.

Edward Davey: For the central Department, expenditure on vehicles is not broken down on a regional basis and the data could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. I have asked the Chief Executives of the Department's agencies to respond directly to the Member. Information on expenditure on vehicles by the Department's NDPBs is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	 Letter from Geoff Russell, dated 27 August 2010:
	I am replying on behalf of the Skills Funding Agency to your Parliamentary Question tabled on 26 July 2010 (UIN 12466). To ask the Secretary of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, what the annual expenditure on vehicles of  (a) his Department and  (b) each (i) non-departmental public body and (ii) executive agency for which his Department is responsible in each English region was in each of the last three financial years; and what the planned expenditure is in each case for 2010-11.
	The Skills Funding Agency was set up as an agency of BIS on 1 April 2010 and has not in the last 5 months since its creation had an expenditure on vehicles.
	 Letter from Stephen Speed, dated 23 August 2010:
	The Secretary of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has asked me to reply to your question what the annual expenditure on vehicles of  (a) his Department and  (b) each (i) non-departmental public body and (ii) executive agency for which his Department is responsible in each English region was in each of the last three financial years; and what the planned expenditure is in each case for 2010-11.
	The Insolvency Service Executive Agency of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills incurred the following annual expenditure on vehicles in each English region in each of the last three financial years; and what the planned expenditure is in each case for 2010-11.
	
		
			  £ 
			   Actual 2007-08  Actual 2008-09  Actual 2009-10  Forecast 2010-11 
			  Region 
			 East Midlands 127 0 106 163 
			 East of England 311 49 135 209 
			 London 9,073 11,855 4,021 4,484 
			 North East England 278 1,179 245 378 
			 North West England 33 541 439 675 
			 South East England 96 88 0 0 
			 South West England 88 259 373 575 
			 West Midlands 1,517 5,225 1,847 2,000 
			 Yorkshire and Humberside 0 0 0 0 
			 Total 11,523 19,196 7,166 8,484 
		
	
	In all cases the vehicle expenditure relates to car or van hire for ad hoc purposes where public transport is not available or it is more economical and secure to move equipment b y this method.
	 Letter from Richard Sanders, dated 25 August 2010:
	I am responding in respect of the National Measurement Office to your Parliamentary Question tabled on 26 July 2010, to the Secretary of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills asking the annual expenditure on vehicles in each of the last three financial years and what the planned expenditure is for the 2010-11 financial year.
	The National Measurement Office and its predecessor, the National Weights and Measures Laboratory, spent the following on vehicles:
	
		
			  £ 
			  Financial year  
			 2007-08 9,884.46 
			 2008-09 7,088.71 
			 2009-10 14,371.45 
		
	
	Around 78% of the above costs were fully recovered from customers that pay for NMO commercial services.
	The planned expenditure on vehicles for the 2010-2011 financial year is £24,000.
	 Letter from John Alty, dated 23 August 2010:
	I am responding in respect of the Intellectual Property Office to your Parliamentary Question tabled 26th July 2010, to the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills.
	The Intellectual Property Office, an Executive Agency of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills spent the following on vehicles
	
		
			   £000 
			 2007-08 128 
			 2008-09 114 
			 2009-10 107 
			 2010-11 (estimated) 105 
		
	
	This mainly comprised hire cars and did not include any purchases.
	 Letter from Gareth Jones, dated 29 July 2010:
	I am replying on behalf of Companies House to your Parliamentary Question tabled 26 July 2010, UIN 12466 to the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills.
	There has been no expenditure on vehicles in any English region in the last three financial years by Companies House, and there are no plans for any in 2010-11.

Employment Agencies: Regulation

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will undertake further consultation with the recruitment industry on the provisions of the Agency Worker Regulations 2010.

Edward Davey: The Government are aware of the different points of view expressed by various stakeholders, including the recruitment industry, about certain aspects of the agency workers regulations and is currently considering the way forward.

Employment Agencies: Regulation

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what estimate his Department made of the cost to the agency worker industry of the implementation of the Agency Worker Regulations 2010; and if his Department will take steps to reduce the amount of regulation on such agencies.

Edward Davey: An impact assessment was published under the previous Government at the time of laying the Agency Workers Regulations in January 2010.
	The annual costs to the private and public sector represents about 0.3% of the total UK wage bill (around £1,800 million).
	The Government are aware of the different points of view expressed by various stakeholders about certain aspects of the agency workers regulations and is currently considering the way forward.

Employment Agencies: Regulation

Charles Walker: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will delay the implementation of the provisions of the Agency Workers Directive 2010; and if he will make a statement.

Edward Davey: The Agency Workers Regulations 2010 implement the European Agency Workers Directive and are scheduled to come into force on 1 October 2011 All member states are required to bring the directive into force by 5 December 2011. 1 October 2011 is the closest common commencement date to this deadline.

EU Grants and Loans

Roberta Blackman-Woods: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent discussions he has held with regional development agencies on the European Regional Development Fund.

Mark Prisk: The Secretary of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS), has held no recent discussions with the regional development agencies (RDAs) on the European regional development fund (ERDF).

EU Grants and Loans

Roberta Blackman-Woods: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether he expects any of the European Regional Development Fund allocations to the UK for period 2007-13 to go unspent.

Mark Prisk: The UK's allocation for the European regional development fund in the period 2007-13 is €5.4 billion and the Government expect this allocation to be fully spent by the closure of the programmes in 2015.
	However a number of factors may prevent this allocation from being fully spent such as variations in the exchange rate or the presence of irregularities in projects. Progress in meeting the spend targets will be monitored throughout the programme period.

Further Education: Finance

Jack Dromey: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what proportion of funding for further education colleges was provided from  (a) central Government,  (b) local government and  (c) other sources in the latest period for which figures are available.

John Hayes: Since 1 April 2010, the Skills Funding Agency, an Executive Agency of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS), has responsibility for allocating funding to Further Education (FE) colleges and other training organisations for the delivery of post-19 FE and skills provision.
	FE colleges may also receive funding for 16-18 FE and Skills provision, Higher Education and programmes for the unemployed from central Government. In addition they may receive funding from local authorities and European Social Funds. As autonomous bodies colleges also receive private funding from individuals and employers.
	Each FE College is required to publish a set of annual accounts, which can be found on the Skills Funding Agency website:
	http://skillsfundingagency.bis.gov.uk/
	The most recent data available are for the academic year 2008/09, when the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) was the major funding body for both 16-18 and 19+ FE. The online figures for this year show that income across listed FE colleges which was recorded as "total funding bodies and government agencies income" was £6.3 billion. A total of £82 million was invested in FE colleges by "local authorities and schools," while "total other" college income was £465 million.

Internet: Regulation

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills under what legislation file sharing is regulated; what changes to such legislation are planned during the next two years; and if he will make a statement.

Edward Vaizey: File-sharing technology is, of course, entirely legal, it is its use to unlawfully share copyright material which is addressed within the Digital Economy Act 2010. The Act sets out two obligations to tackle online copyright infringement. The obligations set out in sections 3-8 will be imposed on internet service providers (ISPs) to send notifications to subscribers alleged by right holders to be infringing copyright and to record the number of notifications with which each subscriber is associated and make this data available to right holders, without revealing the identities of the subscribers on request.
	The second obligation will allow the rights holder to apply for a court order to get access to the name and address of the serious repeat infringers, in order to target legal action against them.
	These measures will only take practical effect once a code has been approved by Ofcom and Parliament. We expect these measures to make a significant difference to the level of unlawful file-sharing, and so have no current plans to make any changes in the next two years.

Minimum Wage

Nick Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what estimate he has made of the number of people who have received an increase in wages consequent on each uprating of the national minimum wage since its implementation.

Edward Davey: The Low Pay Commission (LPC) estimate that around 970,000 workers stand to benefit from the October 2010 uprating of the NMW. Similarly, BIS estimate that around one million jobs have had their pay increased each year because of annual upratings of the National Minimum Wage (NMW).
	It is not possible to add up the number of potential beneficiaries of the NMW over the years since its implementation because consecutive years' figures may include many of the same people. However, over time people move in and out of jobs and progress up the pay scale so new individuals will be affected by the NMW every year. Therefore the total number of people to have benefited from an increase in wages due to upratings in the NMW since 1999 is likely to considerably exceed one million.

Nanotechnology: Cosmetics

Katy Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment he has made of the effects on health of the use of  (a) nano-materials and  (b) C60 fullerenes in cosmetic products; what account was taken of the findings of the (i) EU Scientific Committee on Consumer Products in 2008 and (ii) Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution in 2007 in making such an assessment; and if he will make a statement.

Edward Davey: The Department has made no such assessment.
	Cosmetics are regulated under the Cosmetic Product (Safety) Regulations 2008 and while nanomaterials are not specifically mentioned, all products are required to undergo a safety assessment which has to take into account, among other things the particle size of ingredients. A new European Regulation which comes fully into force in July 2013 will require all new cosmetic products to be notified to the European Commission six months prior to being placed on the market and this notification will include a section on nanoparticles. The report shall include the identification of the nanomaterial, the size of particles, physical and chemical properties; an estimate of the quantity of nanomaterial intended to be placed on the market per year; the toxicological profile and the safety data foreseeable exposure conditions relating to the category of cosmetic product.

Public Sector: Procurement

Karen Lumley: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will take steps to assist small businesses to participate in the tendering process for public sector services.

Mark Prisk: Improving public procurement processes to ensure fair access for small businesses is a priority for the Government. The Coalition agreement announced our aspiration that 25% of Government contracts should be awarded to small and medium sized businesses.
	Officials are developing a programme of activity and details will be announced in due course.

Regional Development Agencies

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether he has issued guidance to regional development agencies on public expenditure since the publication of the Coalition agreement; and if he will make a statement.

Mark Prisk: The Regional Development Agencies each have a Financial Accountability Framework which sets out their main financial duties.
	Since the publication of the Coalition document we have written to each of the RDAs detailing the reductions in RDA budgets for 2010-11 and highlighting the requirements for new spending prior to and beyond March 2011, the latter to be approved by BIS and HM Treasury.
	This Department has also written recently to all its arms-length bodies with regard to new arrangements in relation to consultancy and marketing expenditure.

Sector Skills Councils

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what plans he has to reform sector skills councils; and whether he will reduce the number of such councils.

John Hayes: The coalition Government believe in a strong employer role and voice in the skills system, and that this is best organised at sectoral level. Sector Skills Councils have a crucial role in all aspects of our skills policy, including apprenticeships. We will continue to empower them as the voice of employers in the skills system-and to challenge them to perform with maximum effectiveness. The number of SSCs should be for employers to determine, taking account of the structure of the economy and the need to resource effectively. The coalition Government will welcome any proposals from employers to merge or rationalise SSCs were this is in the best of interests of their sectors.

Strategic Advisory Board for Intellectual Property

Michael Dugher: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps his Department plans to take to support industries that rely on the protection of intellectual property following the decision to close the Strategic Advisory Board for Intellectual Property; and if he will make a statement.

Edward Davey: The Intellectual Property Office (IPO) continues to promote innovation by providing a clear, accessible and widely understood Intellectual Property (IP) framework so that creators, users and consumers can benefit from knowledge and ideas. The IPO supports industry by granting robust IP rights and further through business support activities such as IP education programmes.
	The Strategic Advisory Board for Intellectual Property Policy (SABIP) which was formally established on 2 June 2008 provided Government with independent, strategic, evidence based advice on IP. Following the decision to dissolve SABIP, the sponsoring agency, the IPO, consolidated key IPO and SABIP research into one programme. The combined work is designed to bring together existing sources of data on IP rights, linking them to economic data to develop a definitive information base with direct relevance to policy evaluation.
	During 2010/11 this evidence will be used to answer the following questions:
	How much does UK industry spend creating IP protected by IPRs, and what does this investment deliver?
	How big is investment in the copyright economy, who earns what from it and how are value chains affected by digital media?
	Do patents add value to R&D-how much, and in which industries/markets?
	Which firms make money out of IP and innovation without patents, and how?
	Do trademarks help innovation and growth-and which firms win from branding?
	Why is UK design a major success despite using few registered rights?
	Are EU copyright levies a useful reward system or distortion of the market?
	Can patent markets create depth and transparency to benefit innovators?
	Research partners will help the IPO bring together data on business use of IP rights, innovation and business performance, creating a knowledge base that other researchers and policy analysts will be able to access, use and develop. All the research reports will be published. I do not intend to make any further statements.

Trade Competitiveness

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether he plans to seek to ensure that by 2020 the UK will be in the top eight Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development countries for skills, employment and productivity performance; and if he will make a statement.

Mark Prisk: In 'A Strategy for Sustainable Growth', published by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills in July, the Government state that, by strengthening macroeconomic fundamentals and providing a strong framework for business and growth, it aims to increase productivity through skills, innovation, ICT diffusion and new firm start-ups. We are in the process of further developing this strategy to improve the UK's performance.
	We want to build an internationally competitive skills base. We have already begun the process of reforming the further education and skills system by refocusing funding on 50,000 extra apprenticeship places, and putting measures in place to free colleges and training organisations from unnecessary bureaucracy. But we want to go further, to redesign the system so it places power and responsibility in the hands of learners and employers, and supports the vision for a "Big Society". We are therefore consulting on the future direction of skills policy, including how to measure how well employers and the skills system are progressing in meeting our priorities.
	On productivity, between 1998 and 2008, the UK closed the productivity (as measured by output per worker) gap with Germany and narrowed the gap with France, and broadly kept pace with the US. Over the same period, the gap in productivity in terms of output per hour worked has also narrowed with Germany, though remained broadly unchanged with both France and the US.
	On employment, the latest comparable data (2009) shows the UK's employment rate is 70.6% compared with an OECD average of 64.8% in 2009. We seek to support a flexible labour market. We also recognise the continuing need to provide strong employment support to those that are out of work.

Trade Unions

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills 
	(1)  how much his Department and its predecessors has paid to trade unions in each year since 1997; and what estimate he has made of the monetary value of facilities provided by his Department and its predecessor for use by trade unions in each year since 1997;
	(2)  how many paid manpower hours civil servants in his Department and its predecessors spent on trade union-related duties and activities in each year since 1997;
	(3)  how many civil servants in his Department and its predecessors spent the equivalent of  (a) five days or fewer,  (b) five to 10 days,  (c) 10 to 15 days,  (d) 15 to 20 days,  (e) 20 to 25 days and  (f) 25 days or more on trade union-related activities or duties while being paid salaries from the public purse in each year since 1997.

Edward Davey: The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) was created on 6 June 2009 by merging the former Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR) with the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills (DIUS). Records of Trade Union related activities are therefore not available for 2009/10 or before the merger.
	The trade unions represented within this Department are: FDA, Prospect and PCS. Since the formation of BIS in 2009, no money has been paid to any of the three trades unions recognised for collective bargaining in BIS.
	BIS currently employs 3.0 full-time departmental Trade Union Side Officers at an approximate cost of £90,000. Across BIS a number of staff have small facilities time allocations. More details on this can be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	This Department provides office facilities within its buildings at 1 Victoria Street, London and at St Paul's Place in Sheffield for the use of the Trade Union Side. The current cost per annum of providing this space is £26,205. As a consequence of the Department's formation, it operates two IT contracts with different service components and differing charging regimes that are in the process of being unified. Currently it is not possible to separate the costs sufficiently to respond accurately to this specific request.

Trade Unions: Finance

Sajid Javid: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what payments have been awarded to trade unions through the Union Learning Fund in each financial year since the fund was established; and if he will make a statement.

John Hayes: The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) currently provides funding to support the union learning fund (ULF) and unionlearn, the TUC's learning and skills organisation, which administers the Fund on behalf of the Department. The main purpose of this budget is to enable trade unions and union learning representatives (ULRs) to work with employers, employees and learning providers to encourage greater take up of learning and raise skill levels in the workplace. All ULF projects are bound by contracts with defined learning targets and outcomes.
	Since the introduction of ULF in 1998 annual expenditure in each financial year has been as follows:
	
		
			   £ million 
			 1998-99 1.7 
			 1999-2000 3.1 
			 2000-01 3.9 
			 2001-02 6.3 
			 2002-03 7.4 
			 2003-04 12.2 
			 2004-05 14.4 
			 2005-06 15.4 
			 2006-07 16.9 
			 2007-08 18.4 
			 2008-09 21.4 
			 2009-10 21.5 
		
	
	Unions and their ULRs play a significant role in helping adults, particularly those who are poorly qualified and with no background in continuing their education, to become engaged and more confident with learning and improve their skills. In 2009-10 over 233,000 learners in workplaces across the country were helped back into learning by the union learning fund and union learning representatives.

Trade Unions: Finance

Sajid Javid: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what payments were made to trade unions through the Union Modernisation Fund in 2009-10; and if he will make a statement.

Edward Davey: The information on how much has been paid to each trade union from the union modernisation fund in 2009-10 is as follows:
	
		
			  FY April 2009-March 2010  £ 
			 ACCORD 30,587.50 
			 Association of Teachers and Lecturers 38,976.25 
			 Bakers, Food and Allied Workers Union 35,962.40 
			 Bakers, Food and Allied Workers Union 3,877.50 
			 Broadcasting Entertainment Cinematograph and Theatre Union 134,167.41 
			 Chartered Society of Physiotherapy 19,951.00 
			 Communication Workers Union 13,237.65 
			 Communication Workers Union 37,746. 86 
			 Equity 14,104.38 
			 First Division Association 97,837 
			 General Federation of Trade Unions 32,259.18 
			 General Federation of Trade Unions 53,978.98 
			 GMB 63,937.54 
			 Musicians Union 15,284.00 
			 National Union of Journalists 5,814.00 
			 National Union of Schoolmasters, Union of Women Teachers 28,385.00 
			 National Union of Teachers 32,916.99 
			 Nautilus UK 6,834.31 
			 PCS-Equality reps 57,062.68 
			 Trade Union Congress 109,508.33 
			 Trades Union Congress 52,683.23 
			 Union of Construction Allied Trades and Technicians 11,496.28 
			 Unison 79,543.50 
			 Unison 16,835.78 
			 Unison 106,997.01 
			 Unite (Amicus) 89,217.79 
			 Unite (T&G) 88,302.00 
			 Unite (T&G) 78,077.35 
			 USDAW 26,938.50 
			 Wales TUC 44,705.00 
			 Total 1,389,478.54 
		
	
	We have recently decided to publish the financial data of funds committed and paid to each union for rounds one and two of the UMF. This is now available on the BIS website from:
	www.bis.gov.uk/policies/employment-matters/strategies/umf
	Equivalent information on round three will be published in due course.

Union Modernisation Fund

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills pursuant to the answer of 21 July 2010,  Official Report, columns 411-12W, on the Union Modernisation Fund, 
	(1)  how much each member of the Union Modernisation Fund Supervisory Board claimed in expenses under each category in each year since 2005-06;
	(2)  where each Union Modernisation Fund Supervisory Board meeting was held; who attended each meeting; what the cost to the public purse of each meeting was; and what the Board's remit is.

Edward Davey: I shall take these questions together.
	The remit of the UMF Supervisory Board, established following a public consultation, is as follows:
	The Board will advise Ministers on the projects which they consider should be supported by the Fund in each bid round in the light of their assessment against the selection criteria.
	At the request of Ministers, the Board will advise Ministers on matters relating to the performance or operation of the Fund, including its future development.
	The final authority for approving bids rests with Ministers.
	Where Ministers do not follow the recommendations of the Board in full, they must give to the Board their reasons.
	The Board will be advised and supported by DTI (now BIS) officials. Subject to this, the Board is responsible for determining its own procedures, including protocol in cases of possible conflicts of interest.
	The Board has met three times, with the following attendees, to review bids to the Union Modernisation Fund:
	 Attendees
	 23-24 November 2005
	Sir Bill Connor
	Judith Hackitt
	Daniel Carrigan
	Adrian Askew
	William Brown
	David Metcalf
	Jeannie Drake
	2-3 July 2007
	Sir Bill Connor
	Daniel Carrigan
	Adrian Askew
	William Brown
	David Metcalf
	Jeannie Drake
	Bruce Warman
	 21 July 2009
	Sir Bill Connor
	Adrian Askew
	William Brown
	Jeannie Drake
	David Lebrecht
	David Gordon
	Also in attendance at each meeting was a small secretariat.
	The cost and location of each meeting of the Supervisory Board was as follows:
	 Meeting of 23-24 November 2005 was held at:
	Hotel Russell
	Russell Square
	London, WC1B
	The cost for this meeting was £4,265.46
	 Meeting of 2-3 July 2007 was held at:
	City Inn
	30 Islip Street
	London, SW1P
	The cost for this meeting was £4,708.09
	 Meeting of 21 July 2009 was held at:
	City Inn,
	30 Islip Street,
	London, SW1P
	The cost to for this meeting was £3602.03
	The following table lists the expenses claimed by each member of the Union Modernisation Fund Supervisory Board under each category in each year since 2005/06.
	
		
			  £ 
			  Member  Daily fees  Air fares  Taxis  Rail Fares  Mileage  Holds  Subsistence  Total 
			  April 2005 to March 2006 
			 Sir Bill Connor 1,500.00 - - 50.00 50.00 - 148.78 1,748.78 
			 Adrian Askew 1,000.00 - - - - - 75.78 1,075.78 
			 Professor William Brown 1,000.00 - - 24.90 - - 145.90 1,170.80 
			 Daniel Carrigan 1,400.00 - - - - - 126.98 1,526.98 
			 Jeannie Drake 1,000.00 - - - - - 75.78 1,075.78 
			 Judith Hackitt 1,200.00 - - - - - 101.38 1,301.38 
			 David Metcalf 1,050.00 - - - - - 3.71 1,053.71 
			 Total8,953.21 
			  
			  April 2006 to March 2007 
			 Sir Bill Connor 1,000.00 - 38.00 876.30 350.00 152.00 272.14 2,688.44 
			 Adrian Askew 200.00 - - - - - - 200.00 
			 Professor William Brown 200.00 - - - - - - 200.00 
			 Daniel Carrigan  532.80 8.00 27.50 37.60 - - 605.90 
			 Jeannie Drake 200.00 - 13.00 - - - - 213.00 
			 David Metcalf - - 22.00 - - - - 22.00 
			 Bruce Warman 200.00 - - 27.20 2.00 - - 229.20 
			 Total4,158.54 
			  
			  April 2007 to March 2008 
			 Sir Bill Connor 1,250.00 - 31.50 1,891.84 264.80 215.34 151.32 3,804.80 
			 Adrian Askew 800.00 - - - - - 46.72 846.72 
			 Professor William Brown 800.00 - 14.40 34.35 -- - 46.72 895.47 
			 Daniel Carrigan 1,300.00 527.20 33.00 8.00 17.60 - 71.19 1,956.99 
			 Jeannie Drake 800.00 - - 8.00 - - 46.72 854.72 
			 David Metcalf 800.00 - 43.00 -- - - 46.72 889.72 
			 Bruce Warman 800.00 - - 26.60 58.00 - 9.60 894.20 
			 Total10,142.68 
			  
			  April 2008 to March 2009 
			 Sir Bill Connor 1,000.00 - 62.60 469.90 476.40 58.68 385.77 2,453.35 
			 Adrian Askew 200.00 - 11.00 - - - 14.05 225.05 
			 Professor William Brown 200.00 - - 32.40 - - - 232.40 
			 Daniel Carrigan 400.00 272.60 4.00 19.50 17.60 - 53.90 767.60 
			 Jeannie Drake 200.00 - - - - - - 200.00 
			 Bruce Warman 200.00 - - - - - - 200.00 
			 Total4,078.40 
			  
			  April 2009 to March 2010 
			 Sir Bill Connor 1,750.00 - 8.00 827.70 578.00 167.00 198.17 3,528.87 
			 Adrian Askew 600.00 - - - - - 15.87 615.87 
			 Professor William Brown 800.00 - - 43.00 - - 15.87 858.87 
			 Daniel Carrigan 400.00 230.60 8.00 - 17.60 - 50.95 707.15 
			 Jeannie Drake 800,00 - - - - - 15.87 815.87 
			 Bruce Warman 900.00 - - 5.00 1.20 - 3.07 909.27 
			 Professor David Gordon 700.00 - 14.30 127.50 55.50 - 43.47 940.47 
			 David Lebrecht 800.00 - - - 400.00 - 246.27 1,446.27 
			 Total9,822.94

Wales

Jonathan Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will make an assessment of the likely effects on Wales of his Department's planned spending reductions.

Edward Davey: No departmental expenditure limits (DELs) have yet been set for the financial years beyond 2010-11. DELs for the four years from 2011-12 will be set in the spending review on 20 October 2010.
	No assessment has been made of the likely effects on Wales of BIS' planned spending reductions in financial year 2010-11.